You’ve all heard it a thousand times... A middle-aged detective trying to solve a brutal murder of a young girl. Politics and government get in a way. He succeeds. The end. Well, this movie is nothing like that. With its specific plot and deep, powerful message, this Argentine-Spanish Oscar-winning masterpiece opens up a whole new dimension in the crime/mystery movie genre.
First I must say that I’ve been a little skeptic about watching it, simply because I’m not used to the Spanish (I was like the only person in my class who didn’t watch Spanish telenovelas for that matters). But, now I feel bad for not giving it a chance. The movies, not the telenovelas. :D
The movie is based on the Eduardo Sacheri novel La pregunta de sus ojos and produced and directed by Juan José Campanella. The main role is given to one of the most famous Argentine actors and screenwriters of today – Ricardo Darín. Also starring: Soledad Villamil, Pablo Rago, Javier Godino and Guillermo Francella. It was released in 2009 and the proof of its quality is winning the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film the following year.
It begins with Benjamin Espósito, the retired judiciary employee, trying to write a novel about the case he was working on 25 years ago and still hasn’t gotten over. He decides to visit his former superior and partner on the case, beautiful and classy Irene, hoping she’ll help him remember all the details. As they are recalling the past, we learn that she also happens to be his love interest all these years. The whole story is told through an amazing interwinding of the past and the present with scenes involving the same characters (and actors), 25 years apart.
Back in June 1974, a 23-year-old teacher was brutally raped and killed in her own apartment. Benjamin is not the only one obsessed with the search for justice. We meet the victim's husband (now a widower), a young man left completely broken and devastated after his significant one dies. He doesn’t believe in a death row and claims that the only appropriate punishment for a killer is a life sentence. Although this statement seems irrelevant at the beginning, eventually it leads to, in my opinion, most iconic and memorable scenes in a whole movie. The investigation is run by Benjamin and his alcoholic, but hilarious and smart colleague, Pablo Sandoval, who in a brilliant way brings humor into the film. Unlike the other crime movies, finding out who the killer is and solving the case are not the most important parts. And that’s what I love about it! It’s not a typical shallow story with plastic characters and relationships. So, it is not a surprise that killer was caught in the first 60 minutes. But, don’t be disappointed. The best part comes after that.
The four relationships creating a circle and determining the story are the ones between:
Irene and Benjamin
Benjamin and the widower
the widower and the victim
the victim and her killer
What makes this movie so brilliant is the way story is told. On the one hand, there is a murder-solving, and on the other, a beautiful love story. A lot of breathtaking moments and meaningful dialogs make The Secret in Their Eyes the most successful Argentine movie of all time. Not trying to spoil anything, but I must highlight three most memorable scenes: the one in the elevator, at the soccer stadium and, of course, the second to last one. It comes out of nowhere, at the very end, when you think there’s nothing left to be revealed. If you saw it, you’ll know what I’m talking about.
In the end, I picked a few memorable movie quotes:
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...
If you keep going over the past, you're going to end up with a thousand pasts and no future.
The worst part is I'm starting to forget. I have to constantly make myself remember her. Every day. The day she was killed, Liliana made me tea with lemon. I'd been coughing all night and she said it would help. I remember those stupid things. Can you see? Then I start having doubts and I don't remember if it was lemon or honey in the tea. And I don't know if it's a memory or a memory of a memory I'm left with.
How do you live a life full of nothing?
Source: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1305806/quotes
I hope you like my post!
Bojana :)