The Secrets We Keep

Writer-director Yuval Adler creates a unique way to keep viewers in suspense: Have them fear all outcomes. It's no coincidence that Maja spots the man she believes was her attacker underneath a marquee that advertises North by Northwest: The Secrets We Keep rises to Hitchcock comparisons. That said, while his stories kept you on the edge of your seat, whatever was going on with the characters had nothing to do with you personally. Here, Adler crafts a drama that will likely prompt viewers to have an uncomfortable debate in their own heads, asking questions that fill them with self-doubt. And, as far as what's going on on-screen, that's just as unpredictable.

Not a hair is out of place in this tidy film. The costumes and set design details are on point, from Maja's red lipstick and chic late-'50s jeans to Lewis' bland medical offices. The performances by Rapace, Kinnaman, and Chris Messina are remarkable: They're all faces we know, but not so much that we get distracted. The script is tight, with information revealed just when we need it and not a moment before. Part of the excellence comes from exploring less covered territory, like memory loss within trauma, survivor's guilt, and how some Romanians were affected by World War II. Most extraordinarily, the film suggests we need to take a closer look at what it really takes for someone to heal.