Some thoughts

Rating: 8/10 (23 May 2011)

El Secreto De Sus Ojos has an artistic element not seen in many movies. This drama-thriller about a murder case also involving unspoken love is visually and emotionally appealing to national and international audiences. The themes throughout are time, love, closure, regret, corruption, and injustice.
Visually, the film contains interesting camera angles such as the incredible crane shot for the soccer scene. There are many close ups to emphasize the actors emotion during this scene. There are also point of view shots where the viewer can see what the character is discovering or looking at along with them. These shots create anxiety and anticipation for the audience. Throughout this movie the lighting is very intentional and often focuses on the actors faces. The lighting changes from being dark and focused during serious scenes to being overhead and bright during happy scenes.
Emotionally this film tugs at the heart strings of the audience. The viewers are drawn in to Benjamin Esposito's story of not being able to get over this murder case and proclaim his love for Irene. Ricardo Darin does an incredible job at portraying a passionate character. Soledad Villamil has the ability to act as an authoritative, strong, yet emotional woman.
Something many international audiences would not know about this time period was about the ongoing Dirty War. This is important to note because it provides historical relevance and a deeper understanding of this murder case as it pertains to this specific era in Argentina. The Dirty War was a government campaign in Argentina between 1976-1983, that would "disappear" Argentineans who were against the military-run government, called the junta. The war relates to one of the underlying themes in the movie – corruption of the justice system.
All together the various components of this film make it an easy watch. It has emotional appeal inspired by superb acting. National and international audiences alike can enjoy the storyline and come away not just having watched a mindless entertainment film, but instead having watched a movie that provokes a deeper, heart-felt and reflective reaction.