Argentina’s ‘The Secret in Their Eyes’ a thriller and thrilling win for Juan Jose Campanella

Foreign language

“The Secret in Their Eyes”

Juan José Campanella

Proving itself once again to be among the most predictably unpredictable categories at the Oscars, the award for foreign language film went to Argentina’s “The Secret in Their Eyes.” Though likely not quite as controversial as the award last year for Japan’s “Departures,” the prize again shows that the academy has little interest in the popularity of movies on the international film festival circuit nor the critical response to these often-relatively little-seen films.

The German nominee, “The White Ribbon,” and France’s “A Prophet” were among the most lauded films of the last year, having won accolades at festivals from Cannes to Sundance. “The Secret in Their Eyes” (with Soledad Villamil, above left, and Ricardo Darin), though well reviewed, was far less impactful. Its relatively straightforward storytelling, a mix of police thriller and romance, obviously hit the voters here just right.

Academy members must see all five nominees to vote in this category.

Taking the stage, director Juan José Campanella joked about the made-up language of “Avatar,” saying, “I want to thank the academy for not considering Na’vi a foreign language.”

A small controversy bubbled to the surface Sunday morning when Scandar Copti, the Arab-Israeli co-director of nominated film “Ajami,” announced that he did not consider himself to be representing Israel, the country submitting the film to the Oscars. His Jewish-Israeli co-director, Yaron Shani, was quoted saying that he did consider the film Israeli.