Bearing out Brazil’s place as nation of honor at this yr’s Cannes Film Festival, Kleber Mendonça Filho’s “The Secret Agent” (“O Agente Secreto”) received the Fipresci Prize within the Official Selection – Competition class, granted by the International Federation of Film Critics .
Set in Brazil underneath army rule in 1977 and starring Wagner Moura (“Narcos,” “Dope Thief”) , the movie delves into themes of political repression, morality and resistance. Known for his earlier movies “Aquarius” and “Bacurau,” each of which performed in principal comoetition at Cannes, Mendonça Filho continues his exploration of Brazil’s sociopolitical panorama with a story praised for its depth and ambition.
“The Secret Agent” was hailed by Variety‘s Peter Debruge as a “terrific ’70s thriller” and “dazzling period drama.”
In its evaluation of the movie, the Fipresci jury defined: “We chose a film that has a novelistic, epic generosity; a film that allows for digression, diversion, humor and character to evoke a time and place and a rich, strange and deeply troubling story of corruption and oppression. A film that makes its own rules, that is personal yet universal, that takes its time and immerses you in a world – the world of military-ruled Brazil in 1977 and the world of good people in bad times.”
“The Secret Agent,” an epic story which runs almost three hours, is a multinational co-production involving Brazil, France, Germany and the Netherlands. MK2 Films is promoting internationally, and Neon simply picked up North American distribution rights.
Further Fipresci recognition went to actor-turned-director Harris Dickinson’s debut “Urchin,” which screened within the Un Certain Regard part. A two-time BAFTA-nominated actor, Dickinson is thought for his performances in “Babygirl,” “Beach Rats” and “Triangle of Sadness.”
A harrowing character examine of a homeless man named Mike who struggles with habit, “Urchin” has drawn approval for its visceral realism and emotional depth. Variety’s Guy Lodge praises lead actor Frank Dillane for “imbuing Mike with both the kind of wily charisma that makes people want to rescue him and a self-destructive volatility that keeps repelling such efforts.”
According to the jury, Dickinson’s debut is “a powerful first feature that works as a complex character study of a homeless man struggling with addiction. We dive deeply into a cycle of self-destruction portrayed with sincerity, authenticity and genuine empathy.”
From this yr’s Critics’ Week, Directors’ Fortnight and different parallel choices, the Fipresci jury chosen Momoko Seto’s animated characteristic “Dandelion’s Odyssey” for particular recognition.
The French-Belgian manufacturing, distributed internationally by Indie Sales, blends experimental storytelling with animation. Seto, is thought for her creative quick movies together with 2015 Berlin Audi Short Film Award-winner “Planet Sigma.” Next up for “Dandelion’s Odyssey” is a contest screening at Annecy in June.
“In these strange and dangerous times, we believe the most important thing is to find meaning in our choices and to allow ourselves to feel deeply through films that restore cinema’s emotional essence,” the Fipresci jury stated. “We reward this film for its unique use of animation techniques blending classical and modern styles, for the quality of its editing and for the power of its message – love, salvation and companionship in the harshest circumstances. A universal message of life’s triumph over the forces of death.”
This yr’s Fipresci jury at Cannes was chaired by Australian critic C.J. Johnson and included Mariana Hristova (Bulgaria), Laurent Delmas (France), Eva Novrup Redvall (Denmark), Michael Ghennam (France), Hosam Fahmy (Egypt), Ioannis Rouzaios (Greece), Olga Ruin (Sweden) and Freddy Wong (Hong Kong).
Awards come simply hours earlier than the Cannes Film Festival’s principal prize ceremony the place “The Secret Agent” is within the operating for Cannes’ Palme d’Or.
