37. MARIA FULL OF GRACE
 
United States
dir. Joshua Marston
world premiere 2004
U.S. release 2004
 

 
Because the white, L.A.-born, first-time filmmaker has the sense to tell this story in Spanish and hire a Colombian woman to act it, but more than that, much more, he forges a full rapport with her subtle expressions and narrative plights, depicts New York minus the usual b.s., and directs the heck out of the supporting cast. Gracias.