‘If you keep going over the past, you’re going to end up with a thousand pasts and no future...’
When you think about it, when you take into account the language barrier, cultural differences and the fact that each country has its own unique film history, it’s incredible that so many foreign language films break through at all. I suppose when it does happen, it’s a testament to the universality of cinema. The Secret in Their Eyes won Best Foreign Film at the Oscars and also sits snugly at #164 in the hallowed IMDB #250 (at the time of writing). The reasons for this are clear for all to see…
When a young woman is brutally raped and murdered in Argentina, the resulting fallout will have grave ramifications for everyone involved. Benjamin Esposito (Ricardo Darín), a retired federal justice, will spend the rest of his life trying to find out the truth. His colleagues Irene Hastings (Soledad Villamil) and Sandoval (Guillermo Francella) are just as committed to finding justice for the victim’s husband Morales (Pablo Rago) – a man who is unable to move on from his wife’s murder.
Director Juan José Campanella, working from a script by Eduardo Sacheri and Juan José Campanella, weaves a labyrinthine web that is never more than utterly compelling. By the time the final twist announces itself in the third act I was utterly gripped, and it is clear to see why The Secret in Their Eyes has earned itself such plaudits and a presumably inferior American remake. This is partly due to Campanella’s astonishing direction and the creative cinematography of Félix Monti, their use of long takes and handheld cameras takes the viewer to the heart of the action, and partly due to some wonderful central performances, particularly from Darín and Villamil who play a pair of complex and nuanced characters in the shape of Esposito and Irene.
The Secret in Their Eyes is not always a comfortable film, bringing to mind David Fincher’s darkest moments at times, but it is an utterly captivating story that is perfectly acted and directed with passion and fire and skill. Quite simply, a great film.