Is Secrets We Keep a True Story? Are Cecilie and Ruby Based on Real People?

Netflix’s ‘Secrets We Keep’ (originally titled ‘Reservatet’) is a murder mystery drama miniseries that follows the investigation into the disappearance of an au pair named Ruby. Created by Ingeborg Topsøe, the story focuses on Cecilie, who is the friend of the family for whom Ruby worked. Her mysterious absence leads the protagonist to look into the case, but what she digs up reveals more about her, her family, and her friends rather than the victim. Over the course of six episodes, some shocking details come to light, raising pertinent questions about real-life injustice reflected in the show.

The Fictional Premise of Secrets We Keep Focuses on Real Issues

‘Secrets We Keep’ is a fictional story written by Ina Bruhn and Mads Tafdrup. The idea comes from the mind of Ingeborg Topsøe, who wanted to explore a darker side of the au pair culture in Denmark. Instead of focusing on any real case or real family and their au pair, the original characters and plot were concocted to explore the issues at the heart of the story. As part of the research, the writers read up on the upper-class au pair culture, how the system works for both parties, and what dynamics usually exist between them. They picked on several details, like the majority of Filipino women in the au pair program. They also made use of the rumours and stories that have floated around these circles, while also tapping into the prejudices that the employers and the employees have towards each other.

For the series’ director, Per Fly, the most attractive part of the story was its setting. While there have been a bunch of Danish murder mysteries over the years, very few of them have explored the North Coast of Copenhagen. This setting gives a fresh touch to the show but also opens the space for conversation surrounding the class differences that emerge as the investigation into Ruby’s murder picks up pace. The director wanted to break through the facade of perfection and dive into the dark secrets and conflicts that are usually buried too deep to come out in front of the world. Like the director, the writers were also focused on discovering the consequences of the cracks in the otherwise calm and composed picture of the families.

The intention was to critique the culture of silence wherein protecting their own takes precedence over getting justice for the innocent. In the same vein, the show’s creators wanted to show the investigation unfold realistically, so that the audience, too, has to work to get answers rather than having them served on a silver platter. The slow unravelling of secrets through Cecilie’s perspective forces the audience to confront their own biases and make them question their own actions and intentions under the given circumstances. At the end of the day, the creators wanted to present the characters that, despite their flaws, are realistic enough for the viewers to invest in, no matter if what they feel for them is love or hate.