Benjamin Esposito is a retired lawyer trying to fill his days by becoming a writer. Having failed to come up with the right story, he decides to write about a case he worked on many years ago: the brutal rape and murder of a young woman. His journey back through the case will lead to some shocking discoveries.

Written and directed by Juan José Campanella, based on a novel by Eduardo Sacheri, The Secret in Their Eyes is a suspenseful thriller set in Argentina, with a story that spans more than two decades of desperation, corruption and determination to capture the culprit of the heinous crime.

The story skips back and forth through the years and, as each memory is replayed, the facts based around the crime and subsequent events fall into place to tell this emotionally-charged and multi-layered story. Esposito must rekindle his complicated relationship with his ex boss Irene in order to fully recount the situation, which leads to the introduction of other characters such as his alcoholic secretary Sandoval, the victim’s husband Morales and, ultimately, the killer himself. Not only are these great characters, they are also played superbly by their respective actors.

The film’s first half is all about setting the story, recounting the crime and the initial investigation, including the capture and arrest of the killer. However, twists and turns begin at the midpoint, which lead to a second half filled with surprises, shocks and emotional revelations.

As well as featuring a class-A mystery, The Secret in Their Eyes also features plenty of tension and action; a pivotal scene set in a huge football stadium is worth a particular mention for its scale, ambition and execution. There is also a love story at work; handled in such a way that it never overpowers the primary plot line, but, it’s given enough attention to be important and interesting.

Overall, The Secret in Their Eyes is a superb thriller with enough aspects to keep even the hardest-to-please viewer entertained. Performances from all involved are near perfection and the time-travelling narrative is dealt with in such a fashion that Nolan and Tarantino would struggle to improve. It may have taken its time in getting to our shores, but it’s now clear why this was a 2010 Oscar winner.

Please note: This film is in Spanish (South American) with English subtitles.