The Secret in Their Eyes (original title: El Secreto de Sus Ojos) is not just another crime drama—it’s a layered exploration of memory, justice, and the enduring weight of unresolved trauma. Before hitting the play button, here’s everything you need to know about this Argentine masterpiece to fully appreciate its depth, emotion, and historical context.
The Film’s Origins and Global Acclaim
Directed by Juan José Campanella, the film was released in 2009 and went on to win the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2010. Based on Eduardo Sacheri’s novel La pregunta de sus ojos, the movie is a unique blend of psychological thriller, crime investigation, and romance, set against Argentina’s complex political backdrop.
It has become one of the most critically acclaimed films in Latin American cinema, praised for its intricate storytelling, strong performances, and haunting cinematography. If you’re looking for a film that combines emotion, suspense, and intellectual depth, this is it.
What is The Secret in Their Eyes About?
At its core, the film follows Benjamin Esposito, a retired legal counselor, as he tries to write a novel based on a brutal rape and murder case he investigated 25 years earlier. As he revisits the details of the case, he also confronts his own unresolved feelings for his former superior, Irene Menéndez Hastings, and the failures of the justice system that still haunt him.
The narrative oscillates between past and present, revealing how time distorts memory and emotion. The central theme isn’t just solving a crime—it’s about confronting the past, and the secrets that linger behind the eyes of everyone involved.
Understanding the Political Context: Argentina in the 1970s
One of the film’s subtler but crucial layers involves Argentina’s political turmoil during the Dirty War (La Guerra Sucia). The 1970s in Argentina were marked by state-sponsored violence, disappearances, and repression. The film reflects this instability through its portrayal of law enforcement’s complicity, corruption, and the bureaucratic failures that allow criminals to walk free.
Understanding this context is key. The movie doesn’t dwell on politics overtly, but the undercurrent of fear, injustice, and impunity gives the story its emotional power and realism. It’s a reminder of how personal trauma and political decay are often intertwined.
Why the Title Matters
The Secret in Their Eyes is more than a poetic phrase—it’s a thematic anchor. The film repeatedly returns to close-ups of eyes, using them as mirrors of truth, obsession, grief, and suppressed emotion. Every character carries a burden they rarely articulate; their eyes speak what words cannot. Pay attention to these visual cues—they often reveal more than dialogue ever could.
Performances and Cinematic Excellence
Ricardo Darín (as Esposito) delivers one of the most compelling performances in modern cinema, marked by quiet intensity and emotional restraint. Soledad Villamil, as Irene, balances vulnerability with authority, offering a sharp contrast to the morally compromised men around her.
Technically, the film is also remarkable. One particular long take—a sweeping shot in a football stadium—has been widely praised for its innovation and tension-building. The muted color palette, melancholic score, and deliberate pacing all serve to immerse you in a world where justice is elusive, and the past is inescapable.
Don’t Watch It Like a Crime Show
If you’re expecting fast-paced action or clear-cut resolutions, reset your expectations. This film is meditative, character-driven, and intentionally slow in its revelations. It’s designed to make you reflect—not just on the mystery, but on the human cost of unanswered questions.
Before watching The Secret in Their Eyes, understand that this isn’t just a whodunit. It’s a story about obsession, silence, love, and guilt—woven through the fabric of a country trying to forget its sins. Let the film take its time. Watch the characters’ eyes. And prepare to carry its questions long after the credits roll.
Before You Watch El Secreto de Sus Ojos
Last modified: July 7, 2025
