2. Strictly Ballroom (1992)
Baz Luhrmann's directorial debut is a charming, funny and inspiring film about the trials and tribulations of a struggling ballroom dancer (Paul Mercurio), a film that has all the director's trademarks already established from the outset. This low budget homegrown Australian film would go on to become one of the first independent films of the 1990's (although not released until 1993 abroad) to grab a hold of American audiences after a hugely successful screening and distribution deal at the 1992 Cannes Film Festival. What makes the film so endearing is Luhrmann's approach to the material, which is still a style he holds on to today. The film is told in a very over the top, self mocking style with a fast moving and harried pace that never lets go. Luhrmann cut his teeth on the Australian stage before adapting his own stage production of Strictly Ballroom to the screen, and no other director could handle the material so well. This film, the first in his "Red Curtain Trilogy" is Luhrmann's love letter of creativity and theatrics. Although told in the typical "fish out of water" template storyline its the passion and devotion of the material from Luhrmann that makes Strictly Ballroom standout in the crowd. Director/Co-Writer Luhrmann's touch lends the film a whimsy, heart and exuberance that few other film-makers posses.