The Secret in Their Eyes

The Secret in Their Eyes (El secreto de sus ojos) is a 2009 Argentine film. Benjamin Esposito, a federal justice agent, becomes entranced by a rape-murder case in Buenos Aires, and tries to solve it even after case is closed, with help from his alcoholic coworker Sandoval, his new boss Irene, and Ricardo, the victim's husband.

The film won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Film, beating out The White Ribbon from Germany, A Prophet from France, Ajami from Israel and The Milk of Sorrow from Peru.


 * Beauty Equals Goodness:
 * Blood Knight: He may not look the part, but Pablo makes it clear that bar brawls are a passion of his.
 * Brick Joke: The typewriter.
 * Cowboy Cop: Esposito is a deconstruction:
 * The Determinator: Esposito is not likely to let the case go.
 * Fan Disservice: There are two instances of nudity in the film. One is of a woman being raped, and is later seen dead, bloodied and bruised. The second.
 * Fate Worse Than Death:
 * Heroic Sacrifice:, according Benjamin's speculation.
 * Jerkass: The kindest coherent way of describing Gomez and Romano.
 * Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Benjamin and Pablo.
 * Karma Houdini:
 * Mood Whiplash: Benjamin is engaging in some amusing banter before walking into the murder scene, with no transitionary shot.
 * Psycho for Hire:
 * Rape as Drama: Starts off the film, and haunts the victim's husband for years.
 * Smug Snake: Romano.
 * Stalker with a Crush: Gomez.
 * Star-Crossed Lovers: Benjamin and Irene.
 * Sugar and Ice Personality: Irene.
 * The Oner: A truly impressive one that starts high in the air, shot from a helicopter approaching a soccer stadium where a game is being played, pans over the players and zooms in on the crowd where Esposito and Sandoval are  which they do right as a goal is converted and the crowd goes mad, causing them to   which in turns gives place to a   through the inside of the stadium, up and down several levels of passages and staircases, , and eventually back out  , where  . The whole scene lasts over five minutes.
 * Underestimating Badassery:
 * Undying Loyalty: Ricardo to his late wife - poignantly enough to motivate Benjamin to take un this seemingly impossible case.
 * Vigilante Man: Ricardo tries to do this by calling a suspect's mother, which ends up causing the suspect to flee.
 * Vitriolic Best Buds: Benjamin and Pablo.
 * Your Cheating Heart: Benjamin is avowedly so.
 * Vitriolic Best Buds: Benjamin and Pablo.
 * Your Cheating Heart: Benjamin is avowedly so.