A film that alternates between drama, romance, and comedy, The Secret in Their Eyes shows that thoughtful filmmaking is not dead (at least until the final ten minutes when subtlety goes out the window). Esposito is a retired investigator who is now an aspiring writer. Although he has changed careers, he cannot put his two passions – an unsolved case and an unrequited love – out of his mind.
The crime in question, a twenty-five year old murder and rape case, is not overly intricate. Some crime thrillers compile twist after twist until the story passes the bounds of plausibility and never comes back. There is a prime suspect who cannot be found and two investigators, Esposito and his alcoholic colleague Sandoval, must track him down using sparse clues. At times, they act like complete buffoons, during a comedic search of the suspect’s mother’s house, but ultimately show great insight and arrest the accused. However, he is pardoned by the government, a fact that haunts the investigators and the district attorney in charge of the case. The victim’s widower seems to take the information in stride.
The grey palette of the film suits the murky nature of the investigation. At times, camera shots are blurry, symbolizing the confusion of the scene. Past and present mix, almost seamlessly. The suspect’s pardon and the government’s justification show how justice is often subjective. Police and prosecutors are powerless and the victim’s family is left to seek their own solace.
There is also the matter of the relationship between Esposito and his boss, an attorney named Irene Menéndez Hastings. They are never able to consummate their romantic feelings for each other and their potential relationship remains another secret within their eyes. They are ultimately responsible for their own happiness.
Juan José Campanella directs a nearly complete film. There are many long close-ups, focusing on the eyes of the characters as they converse with each other. The passionate and intense glances convey as much information as the dialogue itself. Combined with an understated soundtrack, Campanella mixes current scenes with flashbacks from the initial investigation and Esposito’s imagination. The audience gradually learns more and more about the case in a logical and intelligent fashion.
Until the climatic ten minutes of the film when Campanella decides to be blunt and edit the film as if it were a movie trailer. The countless jump cuts and the snippets of dialogue that mean to show how things are coming together in Esposito’s mind almost ruin the film’s mood. For the most part, The Secret in Their Eyes shows that good writing translates well in any language. Ideas of love and morals mix seamlessly without sacrificing suspense. ***½