The Secret in Their Eyes-Movie Review *** 12/04/2011
Posted by Films to consider in Academy Awards, Argentinian Academy Awards, Argentinian/Spanish language film, César Awards, Drama, Movies, Romance, Suspense, Thriller.add a comment
The Secret in their Eyes (Argentinian) 2009 ***
El Secreto de Sus Ojos
Among many other awards and nominations:
WINNER, Best Foreign Language Film, Academy Awards
WINNER, Best Film; Best Director (Campanella); Best Actor (Darín); Best Actress (Villamil); Best Screenplay Adaptation, and others, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Argentina
WINNER, Audience Award, Best Foreign Film, Turia Awards, Spain
WINNER, Best Foreign Film, César Awards, France
Directed by Juan José Campanella
Starring Ricardo Darín, Soledad Villamil, and Pablo Rago
Billed as a mystery, a long-lost-love story, and a thriller, and excellent on all three counts!
Benjamín (Darín) is a retired federal court investigator who is writing a novel about a case that haunted him for twenty-five years. In Buenos Aires, the young wife of Ricardo Morales (Rago) was brutally raped and murdered. The case was eventually solved and the guilty party was captured but, not long after, he was released from prison in exchange for becoming a hitman for corrupt politicians. Benjamín was outraged about the injustice but could do nothing about it.
When Benjamín returns to his former department to do further research, he meets up with his chief Irene (Villamil), now a prestigious judge, and feelings of love are rekindled.
The film flashes seamlessly between past and present, and comes to a fitting and (in one aspect) chilling conclusion.
Highly recommended.
129 min. Rated R. Rape scene, violent images, graphic nudity, and language.
The Window-Movie Review *** 03/07/2011
Posted by Films to consider in Argentinian/Spanish language film, Light Drama, Movies, Spanish language film.add a comment
The Window (Argentinian/Spanish) 2008
La Ventana
Official Selection, Sarasota Film Festival; Toronto International Film Festival; Palm Springs International Film Festival
Winner, Fipresci Prize, Valladolid Film Festival
From Film Movement; directed by Carlos Sorin
Starring Antonio Laretta
A lovely film that covers the last day of an old man’s life in a tender and often humorous way. Surrounded by caring household staff and a visiting piano tuner, eighty-year-old Antonio (Laretta) knows his time draws near. His memories of a babysitter that he had when he was a young boy makes the idea of his passing seem magical.
As Antonio waits for a visit from his estranged son and his girlfriend, his bedroom window draws him outside to enjoy the beauty of the land one last time.
Actor Antonio Laretta is better known as a Uruguayan writer and scriptwriter. I thought he was outstanding in this role.
77 min. Unrated.
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