Cómo funcionan casi todas las cosas

Stuck in a dead-end job as a tollbooth operator in the middle of the Argentinian desert, Celina (Verónica Gerez) quietly yearns for connection with the world outside as well as with the mother who left her as a child. When her father dies unexpectedly, Celina quickly takes over his job as a traveling encyclopedia salesperson, falling under the wing of veteran saleswoman Raquel (Pilar Gamboa, The Fire) and setting out on her first trip away from home - a journey of facing the mysteries of adulthood, of the beauty of unexpected graces, and of perhaps even finding what was once lost. Tender but never sappy and rooted in a tremendous performance by newcomer Gerez, this engrossing debut feature from writer/director Fernando Salem recently won Best Director and Best Screenplay honors at the Mar del Plata Film Festival. Rich with humor and insight, How Most Things Work is a sharp and observant portrait of the pains and wonders of growing into oneself. (Seattle International Film Festival)