I Like It Like That

Darnell Martin's 1994 American film follows Lisette, living in the Bronx. When her husband is arrested during a looting she is left alone with three children; she finds a job at a record company and tries to stand on her own. The idea is that independence unsettles everyone. Once Lisette starts working, her husband, her mother-in-law and the neighbourhood question her intentions; the narrative shows that pressure as an obstacle and offers no easy resolution. Martin was noted as the first Black woman to direct a film for a major studio. The narrative shows the Puerto Rican community of the Bronx from inside; the music, language and locations carry a naturalness uncommon in the independent cinema of the period. A sibling character is written as trans and treated with relative respect for the time. Who it's for: those who like nineties American independent cinema. Who it's not for: viewers looking for a measured pace; the film is built on constant argument and shouting.