Reostat

Traffic is a social drama with a plethora of storylines, laced with elements of black comedy, satire, persiflage, and stereotyping. It might sound like a recipe for disaster, yet it all harmoniously blends together. Surprisingly, this complexity enhances the film's naturalism - after all, isn't life itself disjointed?

The cast is outstanding, with a particularly stellar performance by Anamaria Vartolomei. Even though the film isn't centered on inner conflict, a minute-long close-up of Natalia near the end quietly reveals how deeply we're shaped by our predicament.

Keep your eyes wide open: this film doesn't offer answers to the social issues it raises, but it makes you feel and understand them on a deeply profound level.