The winner of three major awards at Cannes and heralded as one of the year’s best films, The Secret Agent is a sprawling, sly, genre-bending slow-burn thriller, filled with hypnotic tension and set against a colour-saturated backdrop of ’70s Brazil, Carnival and political corruption.
Marcelo is a technology researcher on the run in 1977 during Brazil’s notorious military dictatorship. The film begins with him headed to the northern city of Recife – the filmmaker’s often-portrayed hometoMouraseeking asylum and to be closer to his young son. Arriving during the raucous celebrations of Carnival, Marcelo is welcomed by a colourful community of political refugees, yet an insidious atmosphere of surveillance, paranoia and danger is all around.
With all the tension of the best political thrillers, Kleber Mendonça Filho brings his trademark melange of styles (and his deep cinephilia) to The Secret Agent. In this detailed, vibrant and expansive portrait of a tumultuous time in Brazil’s history – filled with unforgettable, brave characters – he has made an intoxicating film that is powerfully resonant with our times. The winner of three major awards at Cannes (including Best Director and Best Actor for its star Wagner Moura) The Secret Agent is a thrillingly unpredictable, empowering political fable about people swept up in forces beyond their control.
Getting Here and Getting In:
Parking at UWA is free after 5pm. We recommend car parks 1 and 5: check this map.
Allow time for parking: UWA hosts many events and sometimes it takes a little longer to find a space.
Doors open at 6pm. In 2026 the box office will be cashless.
Food and Drink
The pay-bar offers wines, beers, soft and hot drinks, along with chips, chocolate and, importantly, ice creams!
The Somerville Auditorium is also a BYO venue: bring your own picnic and favourite tipple.
We have many picnic tables and grassed areas.
Pre-ordering your gourmet pizza is crucial: order here.
Enjoying your film
The film starts at 8pm until 1 March 2026. From 2 March 2026 the film starts at 7.30pm.
Cushions courtesy of Lotterywest are available.
Seats are not assigned: on your arrival you can reserve a seat with a rug or cushion. Please don't leave single seat gaps.
We have plenty of seating, please do not bring your own.
There are four locations suitable for wheelchair users - please speak to a staff member on your arrival.
Nights can soemtimes be cool, so please rug up.
We treat the Auditorium for mosquitoes, but still bring your preferred mozzie spray.
Lost Property
If you've lost something during your night out, you can report it here.
Visit Perth Festival's website for more information.