The Secret in Their Eyes (2009)

A retired legal counselor writes a novel hoping to find closure for one of his past unresolved homicide cases and for his unreciprocated love with his superior - both of which still haunt him decades later.

Director:

Juan José Campanella

Writers:

Eduardo Sacheri (screenplay), Juan José Campanella (screenplay)

Stars:

Ricardo Darín, Soledad Villamil, Pablo Rago

Top Rated Movies #143 | Won 1 Oscar. Another 52 wins & 43 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Soledad Villamil	...	Irene Menéndez Hastings
Ricardo Darín	...	Benjamín Esposito
Carla Quevedo	...	Liliana Coloto
Pablo Rago	...	Ricardo Morales
Javier Godino	...	Isidoro Gómez
Bárbara Palladino	...	Chica Piropo
Rudy Romano	...	Ordóñez
Alejandro Abelenda	...	Pinche Mariano
Mario Alarcón	...	Juez Fortuna Lacalle
Guillermo Francella	...	Pablo Sandoval
Sebastián Blanco	...	Pinche Tino
Mariano Argento	...	Romano
José Luis Gioia	...	Báez - Inspector
Juan José Ortíz	...	Agente Cardozo
Kiko Cerone	...	Molinari

Storyline

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, Benjamín, his assistant Pablo Sandoval, and newly hired department chief Irene Menéndez-Hastings were personally affected by the case as Benjamín and Pablo tracked the killer, hence the reason why the unsatisfactory ending to the case has always bothered him. Despite the department already having two other suspects, Benjamín and Pablo ultimately were certain that a man named Isidoro Gómez is the real killer. Although he is aware that historical accuracy is not paramount for the novel, the process of revisiting the case is more an issue of closure for him. He tries to speak to the key players in the case, most specifically Irene, who still works in the justice department and who he has always been attracted to ...

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Plot Keywords:

soccer game | concealed | clandestine | undercover | full frontal female nudity | 

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Taglines:

Un crimen sin castigo. Un amor puro. Una historia que no debe morir. [A crime without a punishment. A pure love. A story that must not die.]

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Romance | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for a rape scene, violent images, some graphic nudity and language

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Pablo Sandoval explains the "passions" of the main characters, in the pub scene, he compares Irene with Susanita in her bride-to-be mania. Susanita is a character in the famous Argentinian comic-strip Mafalda, by Quino. Susanita is a blonde elementary school girl who is known for always talking about her future handsome husband and her future beautiful wedding, when she is not gossiping about the neighbor's marriages.

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Goofs

When Esposito is visiting the victim's home for the second time to go through the photographs, he asks Morales whether he would support the death penalty if Liliana's killer was apprehended. Morales answers; "He would just get an injection and go to sleep." Lethal injection has never been employed in Argentina and was legislated in Texas (the first jurisdiction to adopt the method) only in 1977, three years after the scene is set; hence, it is very unlikely that Morales would consider it as a hypothetical method of execution.

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Quotes

[first lines]
[English subtitles]
Benjamín Esposito: [voiceover] On June 21st, 1974, Ricardo Morales had breakfast with Liliana Coloto for the last time. For the rest of his life he'd remember every single detail of that morning. Planning their first vacation... Drinking tea with lemon for his nagging cough... with his usual lump and a half of sugar. The fresh berry jam he'd never taste again. The flowers printed on her nightgown... and especially, her smile. That smile like the sunrise... blending in with the ...

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Connections

Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Spanish Language Movies (2016)

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Soundtracks

Tema de Irene
Written by Emilio Kauderer

User Reviews

as good as anything out there

Simply put, this is one of the finest films I've ever seen. I don't say that lightly, I don't exaggerate when it comes to talking about movies -- but everything about this one, from the acting to the writing, to the camera work, to the directorial decisions, is grade A. The story deals with deep matters, and it does so one step at a time, with a plot that moves steadily forward, gathering force, substance and intensity, not settling for easy answers or plot points, not cutting corners. The characters are complicated, interesting, believable, flawed, funny, tragic and deeply human.

I prefer not to get specific about what happens -- I mostly want to try to get across the quality of this bugger. So I'll say it again: it's one of the best films I've ever seen, as good as anything out there. If there's any justice, a lot of people will see it.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [Argentina]

Country:

Argentina Spain

Language:

Spanish

Release Date:

21 May 2010 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Secret in Their Eyes

Filming Locations:

Estación Retiro, Retiro, Buenos Aires, Federal District, Argentina

Box Office

Budget:

$2,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$167,866, 18 April 2010

Gross USA:

$6,391,436

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$35,079,650

Company Credits

Production Co:

Tornasol Films, Haddock Films, 100 Bares

Technical Specs

Runtime:

129 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1