Life

The Secret in Their Eyes (2009)

This Argentinian crime thriller won an Oscar for best foreign language film and is the second highest grossing film in it's home country. Now retired after a career working for the prosecutor’s office a writer goes over one of his old cases in an attempt to deal with his past.

What this film deals with is not just the main characters past but also the past of a nation as it looks back at crime and punishment under some of the unsavoury past governments that rules Argentina. There is a lot going on with a more general look at the effects of crime on those affected by the case as well as a side plot of unrequited love. The plot works really well although there is the odd moment that strays pretty close to cliché even if the characters themselves acknowledge it.

Overall the film is very well made and there are good performances from the cast. One thing that does stand out is the long take during the football match sequence which is really worth looking out for. Having to work with the same actors playing characters at different ages could have been a problem but the make up department seems to have done a good job here as well.

5/5 a non English language film that is really worth seeking out.