Summary
Highlights
The movie begins with a blurry scene of a man and woman parting at a train station. The scene then shifts to 1999, Buenos Aires, where Benjamín Esposito, a retired judicial employee, attempts to write about a memory in his notebook. He then recounts an incident from June 21, 1974, involving Liliana and Ricardo Morales. Liliana is brutally assaulted and murdered later that day. In the present, Benjamín is disturbed by this memory and tears the page out. The next morning, he meets his old friend Irene, a judge, and tells her about his plan to write a novel about the Morales case.
Flashing back 25 years, Benjamín and his subordinate Sandoval are introduced to Irene as their superior. Benjamín is immediately captivated by Irene. Days later, a counselor named Romano orders Benjamín to a crime scene where Liliana's body is found. He's shaken by the sight and learns she was 23 and recently married to Ricardo. A neighbor suspects two construction workers. Later, Benjamín and a police officer interview Ricardo. Romano later informs Benjamín the case is solved, with the construction workers in custody. Benjamín suspects foul play and discovers the workers were tortured into false confessions. He confronts Romano, who argues they are nobodies. Benjamín vows to file a complaint.
Haunted by Liliana's case, Benjamín visits Ricardo. While looking through photos, Benjamín notices a peculiar man, Isidoro Gómez, staring at Liliana in nearly every picture. They discover Gómez knew Liliana before she moved to Buenos Aires. Benjamín and a police officer search for Gómez but cannot find him. Benjamín's request to visit Gómez's mother is denied by the judge, who is angry about Benjamín's attack on Romano. Benjamín and Sandoval travel to Chivilcoy to Gómez’s mother's home, where they snoop around and find letters. They are later reprimanded by the judge for their unauthorized investigation.
Returning to the present, Benjamín and Irene look at photos from her engagement party. She discourages him from dwelling on the past. Flashing back to 1975, Benjamín reconnects with Ricardo, who has been searching for Gómez. Ricardo’s grief moves Benjamín and Sandoval to convince Irene to reopen the case. Sandoval discovers Gómez is a fan of Racing Club de Avellaneda, leading them to search for him at football matches. They eventually spot and chase Gómez, who is finally caught by the police after a struggle in the stadium. During interrogation, Benjamín and Irene provoke Gómez, leading to his enraged confession of murdering Liliana.
Gómez is convicted and sentenced to life. Later, Ricardo is shocked to see Gómez freed on TV, now a bodyguard for the Argentine President. Benjamín and Irene confront Romano, who reveals Gómez was freed for spying. Benjamín believes Romano acted out of revenge. Gómez appears in the elevator, threatening them. Benjamín delivers the bad news to Ricardo. Irene attempts to get Benjamín to confess his feelings, but he deflects. Plans to meet Irene are interrupted when Sandoval gets drunk. Benjamín takes Sandoval home, and upon returning to his own home, finds it broken into and Sandoval dead. Benjamín leaves the city, transferred to Jujuy.
The narrative returns to the movie's opening, with Benjamín leaving on a train and Irene chasing after him. In the present, Irene reads Benjamín's novel draft, questioning his actions. Benjamín searches for Gómez's address but cannot find it. He visits Ricardo, who has been living in seclusion since 1975. Benjamín discusses his guilt over Sandoval's death, implying Gómez intended to kill him. Ricardo confesses to kidnapping and killing Gómez. Benjamín, disbelieving Ricardo's story, returns to Ricardo's house. He discovers Ricardo has kept Gómez imprisoned in a small hut for 25 years. Benjamín, satisfied, walks away, later visiting Sandoval's grave.
Benjamín visits Irene’s office to confess his love. She acknowledges the complexity but Benjamín doesn’t care. The movie ends with them smiling at each other, and Irene asks him to close the door, signifying a new beginning for their relationship.