Everything Else Is Noise (Lo demás es ruido)

A static shot lasting more than four minutes of traffic chaos at a busy junction, whilst the honking of vehicles and the sounds of a melancholic cello blend into a sorrowful sonata: that is all Mexican director Nicolás Pereda needs to draw you into Everything Else Is Noise (Lo demás es ruido). Tere, a sharp-witted cellist who is having trouble with her neighbours, welcomes a friend into her flat who gets interviewed by two journalists. Tere and her daughter Luisa are more than mere spectators. With wry, cutting commentary, they mock art snobs, expose sexism and denounce the patriarchy. But the real starring role is reserved for sound. Music, silence, traffic noise, dogs and distracting ambient sounds do not merely form the backdrop, but dictate the film’s rhythm. Everyday sounds take on an almost musical quality. Listening is just as important as watching.