Film has a unique ability to bring memory to life, shaping time, perspective, and emotion in ways that mirror how we actually remember. It can move backward and forward, linger on moments, or reveal how memory itself is influenced by who’s telling the story. This July, we’ll explore films that examine how the past is shaped, remembered, and sometimes rewritten, from personal stories to larger questions about history. What happens when memory shifts, fades, or is shaped by forces beyond our control?

This week, we turn to one of the most acclaimed films of 2025.  The Secret Agent, directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho, is set in 1970s Brazil during a military dictatorship and follows a man living under constant surveillance, a reality that puts even ordinary conversations at risk.   Wagner Moura delivers a powerful, award-winning (and terribly charming) performance in a film that blends political thriller, character study, and moments of the surreal.   Widely celebrated on the festival circuit, it  was one of the most decorated films at Cannes and went on to earn major recognition at the Golden Globes and Academy Awards.   But what makes The Secret Agent especially compelling is the way it explores how truth becomes obscured in a world where memory, history and even identity are shaped by fear, silence and those in power.

***This film is being presented as part of the Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library's Wednesday Movie Club, a weekly showcase of movies that matter for people who love movies.  Attendees will be invited to discuss the film immediately following the screening. Registration is not required.

 Rating: R (political violence, sexual situations and some nudity)
Runtime:2h 38m
Production Year: 2025
Cast: Wagner Moura, Maria Fernanda Cândido, Gabriel Leone
Director: Kleber Mendonça Filho