This time, however, Campanella wasn’t running with a sweet dramedy about the importance of family.
Instead,his film was a heavy thriller with its own fair share of political commentary.
And the Academy absolutely loved it.
Custom Image by Federico Napoli
Now, thrillers aren’t exactly among the Academy’s favorites.
Perhaps this penchant for the dramatic is precisely what sold themThe Secret in Their Eyes.
The film explores themes of justice, memory, and unrequited love.
The Secret in Their Eyes follows retired legal counselor Benjamín Esposito as he sets out to write a novel about a decades-old unresolved rape and murder case that still haunts him. As he revisits the investigation, Benjamín reconnects with his former colleague Irene and uncovers new clues that lead him closer to the truth. The film explores themes of justice, memory, and unrequited love.
What Is ‘The Secret in Their Eyes’ About?
To fully understandThe Secret in Their Eyes' mordant commentary, one has to first understand its story.
Starring Mortensen, Dunst, and Oscar Isaac, this 2014 thriller completely revamps the traditional con artist story.
The prime suspect is Isidoro Gomez (Javier Godino), a former sweetheart of Liliana.
However, things are not so simple.
Furthermore, the movie has this whole thing about how a person cannot abandon their passion.
Gomez was eventually caught because of his obsession with the Racing Football Club.
And, after Liliana’s death, Morales' passion became seeing her murderer behind bars.
Pressed for more information, Morales confesses to ambushing and killing Gomez himself.
But there is still something wrong.
He doesn’t want to kill him, for that would be too merciful.
He wants him to live a long life filled with nothing.
Esposito leaves Morales' farm in a trance.
If we think Morales is in the right, then what horrors are we willing to engage in?
And Morales' version of justice is a lot more vicious than anything the government could envision.
The Secret in Their Eyesis available to rent on Prime Video in the U.S.
