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Topic: The Secret Agent
Posted by: Susan Kelly
Date/Time: 24/02/26 17:21:00

Brazil 1977; under the military regime it's the wild west where might is right and life is cheap. Academic Armando has angered the obnoxious owner of a company who has now taken out a hit on him. He wants to get out of Brazil with his young son but his enemy has friends in high places. He takes shelter with Sebastiana who collects waifs and strays, be it refugees, teenagers fleeing abusive parents or a cat with two faces.

The plot moves about in time but is never confusing. We first see our hero on the run, then shift back in time to see what put him in this plight. There is also a present day strand here two young women are researching the history of the period and listening to tapes Armando made. At times the film lurches into the surreal such as when a severed leg runs amok in a park late at night.

I was daunted by the 160-minute running time but I needn't have worried. I was gripped throughout and fully invested in Armando's fate.

Highly recommended.


Entire Thread
TopicDate PostedPosted By
Film Reviews 202611/01/26 16:48:00 Susan Kelly
   Hamnet11/01/26 16:53:00 Susan Kelly
      Re:Hamnet11/01/26 22:31:00 Sara Nathan
   The voice of Hind Rajab (Arabic with subtitles)11/01/26 22:33:00 Sara Nathan
   No Other Choice (Korean with subtitles)17/01/26 09:16:00 Sara Nathan
      Re:No Other Choice (Korean with subtitles)25/01/26 16:41:00 Susan Kelly
   28 Years Later: The Bone Temple18/01/26 13:47:00 Susan Kelly
   Nouvelle Vague01/02/26 14:31:00 Susan Kelly
   If I had legs I’d kick you 01/02/26 20:49:00 Sara Nathan
      Re:If I had legs I’d kick you 25/02/26 17:56:00 Susan Kelly
   F102/02/26 22:13:00 Sara Nathan
   My Father's Shadow10/02/26 17:30:00 Susan Kelly
   Hamlet (not Hamnet)12/02/26 17:03:00 Susan Kelly
   The Secret Agent24/02/26 17:21:00 Susan Kelly
   The President's Cake26/02/26 17:06:00 Susan Kelly
   Sirat03/03/26 16:43:00 Susan Kelly
      Re:Sirat10/03/26 11:33:00 Michael Robinson
         Re:Re:Sirat06/04/26 21:07:00 Sara Nathan
   Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man15/03/26 15:16:00 Susan Kelly
   Mr Nobody against Putin (Russian with subtitles)19/03/26 21:48:00 Sara Nathan
   Good Boy24/03/26 15:40:00 Susan Kelly
   Everybody down to Kenmure Street26/03/26 20:43:00 Sara Nathan
   Midwinter Break31/03/26 17:21:00 Susan Kelly
      Re:Midwinter Break31/03/26 18:49:00 Chris Hurley
   The Love That Remains04/04/26 17:47:00 Susan Kelly
   The Drama05/04/26 14:32:00 Susan Kelly
      Re:The Drama06/04/26 21:03:00 Sara Nathan
   Amelie (French with subtitles)06/04/26 07:26:00 Sara Nathan

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