On Sunday, January 11, the film “The Secret Agent”, by director Kleber Mendonça Filho, received two of the three awards for which it was nominated at the 2026 Golden Globes. For the first time in history, Brazil won two awards in the same edition of the ceremony. The film won in the categories of best actor (Wagner Moura) and best film in a non-English language.

The victory drove Brazilians crazy and placed the film’s name among the most searched terms of the week on Google. One of the factors that explains so much excitement is the fact that the award serves as a “thermometer” for the Oscars. However, this is not the only reason behind public interest.

Next, check out 5 reasons to see “The Secret Agent”!

1. Important topic

Set in Brazil in 1977, “The Secret Agent” is a political thriller which addresses themes such as paranoia, surveillance, memory, identity and resistance during the Military Dictatorship. The plot follows Marcelo (Wagner Moura), a teacher specializing in technology who escapes a violent and mysterious past and returns to Recife in search of tranquility.

However, he soon realizes that the city chosen as a refuge may not be as safe as he imagined, especially when he begins to suspect that he is being spied on, including by his own neighbors. This context has led the public to reflection and deep political debates, precisely the type of narrative that arouses the interest of the Oscars, placing the film among the favorites for the “Best International Film” award in 2026.

2. Award-winning trajectory

At the Golden Globes, in addition to the award for “Best Actor in a Drama Film”, the thriller also won the statuette for “Best Film in a Non-English Language”. In others festivalsthe production’s trajectory is marked by an extensive list of recognitions, which brings together 56 trophies in 36 awards. Some of them are:

Cannes Film Festival

• Best Direction (Kleber Mendonça Filho);
• Best Actor (Wagner Moura);
• FIPRESCI Award (International Federation of Film Critics);
• “Art et Essai” Award, awarded by AFCAE (French Association of Cinema d’Art et d’Essai).

Critics Choice Awards

• Best International Film;

National Society of Film Critics Awards 2025

• Best Film in a Non-English Language;

The Golden Beast

• Carminha (the cat who gives life to Liza and Elis);

3. Directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho

The same director of “Bacurau” and “Aquarius”, Kleber Mendonça Filho is already known at international awards for his work and dramatic style, which moves between suspense and realism. These characteristics tend to appear in his works with a critical bias, instigating society in a purposeful way — as the director himself highlighted in his acceptance speech for the “Best Film in a Non-English Language” award at the Golden Globes.

“I really believe that cinema can be a way to express some of our grievances about the society we live in,” said the director, sending a special message to filmmakers: “I think there is a lot of technology available to express yourself, and I think this is a great time for that. And I believe that young American filmmakers have a lot to say about what happens in this society.”

4. Northeast cast

In addition to being set in Recifethe film brings together a strong cast born in the Northeast, such as Wagner Moura, Thomás Aquino, Tânia Maria, Alice Carvalho and Kaiony Venâncio, which further strengthens the production’s regional identity.

5. Performance by Wagner Moura

Wagner Moura’s performance was widely praised by the public and specialized critics — not surprisingly, he took home the “Best Actor in a Drama Film” statuette. In fact, critic Clayton Davis, who “predicted” Fernanda Torres’ victory at the 2025 Golden Globes, wrote in a text, published in Variety magazine (specialized in cinema), that Wagner Moura’s performance “is mesmerizing, full of tension and melancholic intelligence”.