Watch an Ensemble Scene From ‘The Secret Agent’

A warm ensemble scene from “The Secret Agent” gives political refugees a rare moment to let their guard down. Kleber Mendonça Filho’s contemplative period drama is nominated for four Academy Awards, including best picture. Set in 1977 amid Brazil’s military dictatorship, the sequence unfolds at the home of Dona Sebastiana (Tânia Maria), the house mother for refugees staying in her building.

Narrating the scene, Mendonça Filho said that it “works because of the great acting, and also because of quite a lot of affection that comes through in the text.” They had one evening to shoot it and filmed overnight, juggling “two cameras, anamorphic Panavision lenses, three mics, about 30 crew, three dogs, a cat: We had a lot to get done.” Despite all that activity, the scene keeps a formal, calm look.

Mendonça Filho said he “never really wanted to do this sequence hand-held. I always thought that it should be exactly the way it looks, very precise, shots well-composed.

Brazil

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