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Dir: Juan José Campanella
By Emmanuella Kwenortey
Beautifully directed by Juan José Campanella’s The Secret In Their Eyes follows the devastating murder case of Liliana Coloto (Carla Quevedo) through the eyes of retired Chief Investigator Benjamín Esposito (Ricardo Darín). Esposito seeks help re-exploring this past and looks to his friend (who also worked in the case) Soledad Villamil (Irene Menéndez Hastings) to help him remember the faces time has forgotten.
Whilst the investigation and its follow-up act as the main storyline (we soon know of the murderer), it is the plethora of side-narratives and personal stories which add a level of richness to the film that is simply sublime. The budding love and romance between Esposito and Villamil is one of them. As their relationship develops, we watch them deal with government corruption, institutional discrimination and other tribulations within Argentina. Adding a touch of humour and laughter to an otherwise deeply saddening film, the relationship between Esposito and his second-in-command investigator Pablo Sandoval (Guillermo Francella) is also explored and adds lightness to the film. The film also explores Coloto’s widower, Ricardo Morales (Pablo Rago), who shows a humility and dignity throughout the film, which leaves the viewer speechless, especially at the very end.
This film is stunning in plot, cinematography and style. One particularly phenomenally well-directed scene is when murderer Isidoro Gómez (Javier Godino) is chased at a football stadium during a match, the camera effects and sheer simplicity are to be marvelled at and thoroughly appreciated. And there are countless other scenes just as wonderfully portrayed.
But what certainly makes The Secret in Their Eyes such a fantastic film is the story. Plots, twists, turns, laughter, tears and sadness forces the viewer to assume nothing and expect everything. Cinematic brilliance.
