The Secret in Their Eyes

This motion picture is an English language remake of 2009’s foreign film Oscar® winner “El Secreto De Sus Ojos.”

The film opens up with FBI investigator Ray (Chiwetel Ejiofor) looking through several pictures of male suspects and criminals, until he sees what he believes is a match. He walks into the office of his District Attorney supervisor Claire (Nicole Kidman), and it is obvious that they have a history together. We then flashback to 13 years prior, months after 9/11, where we meet Jess (Julia Roberts) and a younger Ray; they are part of a counter terrorist task force. Claire is a new prosecutor who joins the team. A call comes in regarding a female body found in a dumpster near a mosque that has been under surveillance. Jess and Ray go to investigate, only to find the girl in the dumpster is Jess’s only daughter Carolyn.

The most likely suspect is quickly narrowed down, but with the threat of terrorism taking precedent, the suspect is quickly released, and Ray spends the next 13 years trying to bring him back to face justice.

Julia Roberts does a great job as a grieving mother; there is a scene where she discovers the body of her daughter that made me tear up as a mom. Nicole Kidman plays her role pretty much by the book, her character is straightforward with minor complexities, and she portrays her character as such. Chiwetel Ejiofor’s acting is good; I believed his role as an investigator that couldn’t give up on a case, and together the actors work very well together.

The plot is strong, making an interesting crime thriller. The repeated flashbacks keep up the storyline and the twist is satisfactory.

There is some objectionable content. There is talk of a brutal murder of a young girl, there’s talk of rape, with pictures, cleavage is shown. There is swearing and 13 misuses of God’s names.

The whole film centers around justice, justice for Carolyn the young girl killed in the film. When the man-made system fails, where do we get our justice from? The Bible says that vengeance is God’s and only His. Our God is a loving God, but he is also a just God, and that’s why He must judge and punish sin, all sin, and it’s only through the blood of Christ that we can be saved from His righteous judgment.

As for a recommendation for this film, it’s a toss up. The acting and plot is decent, but there is content that is disturbing. Overall, the film deals with the pursuit of justice over a long period of time, and what effects that has on one’s spirit and body. The film’s end left me with an unsettling feeling of satisfaction, and the question of “was it worth it?” The film could possibly be used as a starting point in counselling someone on the ultimate emptiness of human justice and revenge (personal vengance), God’s final judgment, and where they can find true comfort, peace and eternal safety.

Violence: Heavy to extreme / Profanity: Heavy—“Jesus Christ” (1), “Jesus” (3), “Christ” (1), “G*d-damn” (4), “God” (1), “Oh G*d” (1), “damn” (2), “hell” (9), f-word (1), vulgar sexual words (5), “a**-hole” (4), “a**” (4), SOB (4), s-words (5) / Sex/Nudity: Heavy

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.