The Secret in Their Eyes (El Secreto de Sus Ojos) poster & wallpaper
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Ricardo Darín, Soledad Villamil, Pablo Rago, Javier Godino, Carla Quevedo ... see more see more... , Barbara Palladino , Rudy Romano , Alejandro Abelenda , Mario Alarcon , Guillermo Francella , Sebastián Blanco , Mariano Argento , José Luis Gioia , Juan José Ortiz , Kiko Cerone , Fernando Pardo , Maximiliano Trento , Sergio López Santana , Elvio Duvini , David Di Napoli , Pedro Kochdilian , Oscar Ortega Sánchez , Gabriela Daniell , Alicia Haydee Pennachi , Darío Valenzuela , Carlos Mele , Iván Sosa , Judith Buchalter , Hector LaPorta , Liliana Cuomo , Luis Alejandro Pérez

Benjamin Esposito has spent his entire working life as a criminal court employee. Recently retired, and with time on his hands, he decides to write a novel. He does not decide to make up a story. Ther... read more read more...e is no need to. He can draw on his own past as a civil servant for a true, moving and tragic story in which he was once very directly involved. In 1974 his court was assigned an investigation into the rape and murder of a beautiful young woman. -- (C) Sony Classics

Flixster Users

92% liked it

24,334 ratings

Critics

91% liked it

133 critics

R, 2 hr. 9 min.

Directed by: Juan José Campanella

Release Date: April 16, 2010

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DVD Release Date: September 21, 2010

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Stats: 2,402 reviews

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Juan Jose Campanella
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Flixster Reviews (2,402)

  • MidnightMadwoman
    April 25, 2012
    MidnightMadwoman
    This movie reminds me a little of Oldboy or Tell No One; it's a rivetting crime drama tied together by really endearing and human characters. This movie makes a point of letting you get to know all the characters and seeing their fears , goofiness and pettiness - all the things t... read morehat make them human, basically - and uses them to anchor the investigation into a decades-old crime. Every single character in this movie is interesting and genuine: the villains aren't devoid of moral fibre, and the heroes aren't free from feelings of bitterness and selfishness. I really appreciated the time they took to hash out these people's motivations and relationships. The Secret in Their Eyes also reminded me a little of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, but much less mean-spirited. This is not the kind of movie I usually go for, but I am so glad that I saw it.
  • fb1216165431
    September 10, 2011
    fb1216165431
    An eye for an eye. The Secret In Their Eyes is an intelligent, multiple coherent plots on love, loss, and justice with political subtexts. Highly intriguing subtle themes. Sensational.
  • hunterjt13
    August 8, 2011
    hunterjt13
    A former criminal court prosecutor recalls a case involving a raped woman and judicial corruption.
    The Secret in Their Eyes is a superbly constructed thriller with strong performances by Ricardo Darin and Soledad Villamil, both of whom are able to convey so much with so li... read morettle movement; it's understated, stoic acting at its finest.
    The direction by Juan Jose Campanella is also quite strong. Benjamin is always at the edge of the screen, never fully seen until the very end. It's a strong choice, indicating Benjamin's distance from himself and inability to face all that his life has come to. Also, there's a great continuous shot (think: Children of Men or Atonement) at the football game and another shot of a chase scene that shows Campanella's technical brilliance.
    I did think that the love story was not adequately set up so that when it became the main element of the third act, I was surprised.
    Overall, this is a very strong thriller and quite accessible for all audiences.
  • adammahler1
    June 14, 2011
    adammahler1
    Great performances by the male and female leads, and fine dialogue for the supporting cast. Some great shots that show characters boxed in by their habitual environments and give a sense of texture to those environments. Unnecessary melodrama and overanxious plot shortcuts, but t... read morehe two leads sell it better than others could.
  • fb634552688
    May 24, 2011
    fb634552688
    There are an uncountable number of layers to this film. Politics, love, justice, good old symbolism, great acting and so much more. In a movie that's all about the details, they seemed to have nailed every last one.
  • kiriyamakazou
    May 15, 2011
    kiriyamakazou
    Fantastic crime drama. It begins with Darin attempting to write a novel based on a case from long ago. It's been 25 years since the rape and brutal murder of a young woman. It was a case that just fizzled out after getting too hot. This film is filled with love, revenge and obses... read moresion. It plays out in a rich tapestry of events over time. The film prevails against most others due to Rago. He plays the loving husband of the victim. He becomes obsessed with catching the killer, not to kill him, but to make him serve his time. With so many violent revenge fantasies, it's great to finally see a character we can relate to.

    The films wonderul story unravels, but does so with unique and satusfying scenes. The football stadium sees action and intrigue take center stage, whilst an elevator scene is sure to send chills through the viewer. The climax was so expertly handled I was giddy to see it all come together. It was an ending that you do see coming, but not so early on that it ruins the film. It also had me contemplating on the nature of good and evil, and punishment itself. It was satisfying, but also made me feel a little cold. An overall excellent film that I can't wait to watch again.
  • jennifxu
    May 1, 2011
    jennifxu
    A really overdramatic telenovela. The soccer house scene is the only one worth watching. Verdict: skip it.
  • ythelastman89
    April 5, 2011
    ythelastman89
    If this movie were to have been made in the US it would've been labeled as a collage piece of around six different existing crime/detective stories. However, since it is "foreign" there seems to be no bad judgment; it even won an academy award. I'm gonna say it, this is a bland m... read moreovie with no surprises and hammy acting. It tries to have this really great parallel with the relationship and murder mystery, but it's just way too obvious and drawn out. The originality it does have is wasted. Yes, a six long shot is great looking when it is used in something with a great story and event taking place. It's watchable, but it's absolutely nothing you haven't seen before.
  • itsjustme2004
    March 8, 2011
    itsjustme2004
    A slow start, then some crescendo, and a grandiose finish. A very well shot, well written, well acted, well directed piece of art. When all is said and done, though, in spite of some painstakingly detailed scenes, and some sharp scripting, this film just seemed awfully long. I l... read moreiked it, but would have probably loved it with maybe 30 min shaved off.
  • gor41
    January 23, 2011
    gor41
    Unresolved murder thriller elevated by high calibre performances, subtle humour and a touching thread of unrequited love. Infused with an appealing latin american flavour, this is a true gem.

View All The Secret in Their Eyes (El Secreto de Sus Ojos) Reviews

Critic Reviews

Roger Moore
June 2, 2010
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

Romantic obsession at its two extremes is explored with sympathy and intelligence in the thriller The Secret in Their Eyes... Full Review

Tom Long
May 21, 2010
Tom Long, Detroit News

Campanella approaches the material with a classic hand -- no quick cuts, special effects or gimmicks here. This is a flesh-and-blood movie, and both Darin and Villamil bring earthy presence to the story. Full Review

Chris Vognar
May 7, 2010
Chris Vognar, Dallas Morning News

The entire film is stocked with images that reflect a character and story in flux. Full Review

Colin Covert
April 29, 2010
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune

Expertly written, played and directed, it's the best romantic mystery since L.A. Confidential. Full Review

Steven Rea
April 29, 2010
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

Engages with style, suspense, and seriousness of intent. Criminal intent and otherwise. Full Review

Peter Rainer
April 23, 2010
Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor

A bit too symbolic for its own good Full Review

Rick Groen
April 23, 2010
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail

The wonder is that the film balances its many genres, from the thorns of murder to the bloom of romance to the thickets of politics, with such easy grace. Full Review

Christy Lemire
April 23, 2010
Christy Lemire, Associated Press

The performances are what frequently hold the film together when it seems at loose ends, namely from stars Ricardo Darin, Soledad Villamil and Guillermo Francella. Full Review

Mick LaSalle
April 23, 2010
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

Exalted and frustrating, graceful in its filmmaking and clumsy in its storytelling. Full Review

Randy Myers
April 23, 2010
Randy Myers, San Jose Mercury News

Its real beauty is in letting you take from it whatever you want. Should you choose to peel back the layers, you will discover rich lessons about love, loneliness, fear and redemption. Full Review

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    • Pablo Sandoval: And she wants to get married more than Susanita...
    • Benjamín Espósito: How do you live a life full of nothing?
    • Ricardo Morales: If you keep going over the past, you're going to end up with a thousand pasts and no future.
    • Ricardo Morales: "Memories are all we end up with. At least choose the good ones."
    • Irene Menéndez Hastings: "You have come to the end of your life and want to look backwards. My whole life has been lived forward. I can't look back; backwards is out of my jurisdiction. I declare myself incompetent."
    • Benjamín Espósito: forward. I can't look back; backwards is out of my jurisdiction. I declare myself incompetent."
    • Pablo Sandoval: "A guy can change anything. His face, his home, his family, his girlfriend, his religion, his God. But there's one thing he can't change. He can't change his passion."
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