The Secret in Their Eyes (2009)

8.2R129 minDirector: Juan J. Campanella

2009 film by Juan José Campanella

The Secret in Their Eyes (Spanish: El secreto de sus ojos) is a 2009 crime drama film produced, edited, and directed by Juan José Campanella from a screenplay by Campanella and Eduardo Sacheri, and based on Sacheri's 2005 novel La pregunta de sus ojos. It stars Ricardo Darín, Soledad Villamil, Pablo Rago, Javier Godino, and Guillermo Francella. The film, which is an Argentine co-production with Spain, focuses on the relationship between judiciary agents Benjamín Espósito (Darín) and Irene Hastings (Villamil) and their investigation into a murder case in 1970s Argentina.

The film marks the fourth feature-length collaboration between Campanella and Darín, after Same Love, Same Rain (1999), Son of the Bride (2001), and Moon of Avellaneda (2004). It uses a nonlinear narrative and explores the strenuous political and social climate in Argentina throughout the later 20th century. The film is acclaimed for its feature of a continuous five-minute-long shot that runs through a large stadium in which a football match was being held.

The Secret in Their Eyes was theatrically released in Argentina on August 13, 2009, with a North American premiere held on September 12, 2009 at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival. It received critical acclaim for its screenplay, thematic content, Campanella's direction, and the performances of the cast. The film grossed over $34 million worldwide, becoming the second highest-grossing Argentine film ever, behind Nazareno Cruz and the Wolf (1975). It received numerous awards and nominations, winning for Best Foreign Language Film at the 82nd Academy Awards and for Best Spanish Language Foreign Film at the 24th Goya Awards.

Plot summary adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

FAQ

What is The Secret in Their Eyes about?
The Secret in Their Eyes (2009) — In 1999, retired Argentinian federal justice agent Benjamín Espósito is writing a novel, using an old closed case as the source material. That case is the brutal rape and murder of Liliana Coloto. In addition to seeing the extreme grief of the victim's husband Ricardo Morales, Be
Is The Secret in Their Eyes based on a true story?
See the production background and source material details on the official Wikipedia article.
Is The Secret in Their Eyes scary?
Content rating: R. See the reviews tab for parental guidance and tone notes.