If anything, I'd say The Secret in Their Eyes reminded me a lot of Zodiac, at least thematically. Though a procedural crime mystery at its core, the film isn't so much concerned with finding the killer or defining motives. Instead, most of the focus seems to lie squarely on the crime's impact on the psyche of those involved in the case.
The Secret in Their Eyes begins with a series of intros, all featuring the same girl. What begins as a bright, cheerful moment between lovers quickly ends and then is rewritten as a scene of violent, lust-filled carnage. We soon find out these scenes are the work of aging prosecutor Benjamin Esposito (Ricardo Darin). The woman is real, a victim of a violent rape and murder decades ago. It's the one case that has stuck with Benjamin and the subject of his new book - but is he writing to get the facts down, or is this a way of dealing with the events?
From here, the story flashes between the present and past. As Benjamin recalls the case, he's suddenly jerked back into the past. The killer is obvious, but what is it about the case that has stuck with Benjamin for so long? Is it love, passion, empathy or something else entirely?
There's a great emotional resonance running throughout the film that will grab you from scene one and stick with you throughout. Much of the suspense comes from the film's wild plot twists. Some feel completely out of place, and may even throw off some viewers. But at the same time, they make complete sense within the context of what is going on. Benjamin isn't the most reliable of narrators, which helps build a compelling character portrait.
The film's cast, which is probably its greatest strength, is highlighted in the "Casting" featurette. Though little more than audition tapes, it helps reinforce why decisions were made. These reasons are further explored in both the "Behind the Scenes" feature and in Director Juan Jose Campanella's commentary.
If the film has any flaws, it's the pacing. Though always moving forward, the constant jumping between time periods can slow things down. If you're the type of viewer who needs to see the plot constantly barreling through events, then The Secret in Their Eyes may not be the film for you. If, however, you're a character-focused viewer, it's a must see.
