Quartile rating: 8/10 · 1 rating
Hoping to put to rest years of unease concerning a past case, retired criminal investigator Benjamín begins writing a novel based on the unsolved mystery of a newlywed’s rape and murder. With the help of a former colleague, judge Irene, he attempts to make sense of the past.
The Secret in Their Eyes is a masterfully constructed Argentine thriller that won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Its plot weaves together past and present with intricate precision, building to a genuinely shocking and morally complex ending that lingers long after viewing. The performances, particularly from Ricardo Darín, are deeply nuanced and emotionally resonant. Cinematography is exceptional, highlighted by a breathtaking single-take stadium tracking shot that ranks among the great setpieces in modern cinema. The film perfects the slow-burn investigative drama with a distinctive Argentine voice and an unusual emotional depth, though its genre DNA — noir-inflected cold-case mystery — is familiar enough to keep Novelty from reaching the top tier. The ending is among the most memorable and disturbing conclusions in recent thriller history.