El secreto de sus ojos: An Argentine male melodrama

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>The award-winning film, El secreto de sus ojos (2009), by Campanella, has been studied as a film dealing with the impunity of the most recent Argentine military dictatorship (1976–1983). In this article, I consider El secreto as a melodrama in which male characters are ruled by their feelings. I focus on the leading actor, Ricardo Darín who, in his role as Benjamín Espósito, can be characterized as a fallen man, as he suffers from a trauma that impinges on his emotions, inner circle and ability to perform in the public sphere.</jats:p>