73. LA CIÉNAGA
 
Argentina
dir. Lucrecia Martel
world premiere 2001
U.S. release 2001
 

 
Because already in her debut feature, Martel runs the show as though she simply isn't beholden to the usual rules of exposition, editing matches, inconspicuous sound cues, evident links among characters, and pre-set points of audience identification. Yet still, tossing aside all those protocols, she makes us interested, makes us laugh, makes us care.