The Secret in Their Eyes (2009)

The Secret in Their Eyes is a Spanish - Argentinian film that was released in 2009 and directed by Juan Jose Campanella. This is a Crime/Thriller genre film but you can also put it in the romantic genre for some reason. I started it with the thought of having the taste of a thriller film and crime is often a part of thrillers but this time I got the taste of love as a package which served me pretty well, I am drowned in that taste more than the thrilling part due to some reason.

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Okay let's start from the beginning, some random flashbacks as someone is trying to write a novel on his past, and that one is our key character Ricardo Darin as Benjamin Esposito, a retired Judiciary employee. Usually, we get stuck with some incidents that change us, that keep hovering on and on, and Esposito is also stuck with a rape and murder case from his past.

25 years back, Benjamin got the case for investigation but somehow it was closed with capturing two workers who didn't commit the crime. Somehow Esposito could figure out who was the possible murderer through his investigations but in vain. Well, there is Soledad Villamil as Irene Menendez who is a judge and in a superior position from Esposito.

You know, when Esposito was struggling to find a suitable start for his novel then Irene mentioned starting from what he remembers the most and the first thing on his mind was the first day when Irene was introduced to Esposito, the first impression, his eyes getting stuck on her. Actually, as the name suggests, the secret in their eyes seems appropriate to me. You would find fewer scenes that will be passing a direct message to you about their love for each other but there is much more to be felt through the impression from their eyes, especially Irene's eyes. One could easily read those eyes, the cravings visible on them, emotions that are waiting to burst out, all of them came to reality in one scene when Esposito was departing away from her, that railway station scene, Irene running behind the train.

There was a quote from Esposito's assistant or friend that "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." This one is so true, our human nature, no matter how much we run away from everything, there will be something that will have a different attraction. This was the link to lead to the murderer, and also to solve the last puzzle after 25 years which gave Esposito some peace in life. Esposito did see the love in the eyes of Ricardo Morales for her late wife Illiana, who was the victim of the case. For Ric death penalty or four bullets to kill the murderer was a very easy punishment, lifelong imprisonment was a perfect one to make him realize.

Trust me, I felt like the story could have been divided into two separate ones, then there would have been exactly two perfect stories too. Esposito and Irene in the romantic part and Ricardo Morales in the thriller part. I felt like there should have been more scenes on Ric, more focused on him as the ending just blew it. It was already around 2 hours long, that's why they might have kept it this way. Whatever, the chemistry between Esposito and Irene drew my attention most, as I was seeking for a thriller I was feeling a little bit slow for my expectations but when I changed my view and started focusing on them I felt complete. Well, I won't say that the thriller part is not enjoyable, trust me, it is. Especially the ending, so satisfying!

Lastly, I would say, this was really a good one. If you are looking for a movie recommendation to watch, go ahead. Happy Watching!