PARK CITY, Utah - Montreal director Denis Villeneuve says he understands and is flattered by the acclaim received at home for his film Maelstrom, but doubts American critics are ready. Villeneuve made his first big splash at the Sundance Film Festival on Friday when patrons emerged from a sold-out show with thumbs up.

Excellent, said one viewer, Steven White of San Diego. His use of humour was excellent. There were many very humorous parts.

Patrons vote for the films they view. White gave Villeneuve top marks - five out of five.

A young scriptwriter from Los Angeles said she almost walked out fearing another depressing French film about self-absorbed people but said she was glad she stayed.

It became very enchanted, she said. And, the last part of the movie I found to be magical.

Amy Ehninger, also of Los Angeles, gave Maelstrom three out of five.

I weigh how much I think a film is going to change my life, she said. Two things will stay with Ehninger, she added - the opening scene about an abortion, and the film's narrator, a talking fish.

Villeneuve answered questions from an appreciative audience following a raucous round of applause.

He chose a fish, he told them, because of its mythical quality.

Asked before the screening to gauge audience reaction, he said: It has been screened once in L.A. for the Oscars, for the pre-selection, and the reception was very good but I have no idea how the American audience will react. This kind of movie (elicits) a very different reaction in different places because of the cultural background.

For me, at Sundance - I think most of the people are going there to see American films, Villeneuve said. This is one of the places in North America you can see edgy films, films that have a lot of guts and take risks.

Although Maelstrom fits that description, Villeneuve says he cannot afford the time, or worry, thinking it will be the big surprise of 2001.

With 10 Genie Award nominations and a submission to the Academy of Motion Pictures for consideration at this year's Oscars, Villeneuve keeps telling himself not to stress about Sundance, the Genies, the Oscars or any other spotlight that shines on him in the next couple of months.

When it comes to these events I just unplug myself, he says. I want to sleep. I want to be in good shape. If I begin to think about these things I will be dead soon.

The reception the film got in Toronto - I never had such a welcome in my life. And, with the Genies, it's always difficult with these competitions because you never know.

The 88-minute film put out by Alliance Atlantis examines how all of life's elements - small and strange - interconnect and affect people on a very personal and intimate level.

The person affected in Maelstrom is a young woman, played by Marie-Josee Croze, who loses everything - her pregnancy, clothing business, her brother's respect, herself - only to be redefined in the death of a fish-monger whom she hits with her car.

She finds herself connected to the sea, the fish and, ultimately, society. She also finds a true mate, but only after taking responsibility for her actions, which Villeneuve says is the main film's main theme - responsibility.

The compliment I like hearing the most is that the film stays with a person, Villeneuve says.

Many scenes from Maelstrom qualify for the task but none is more haunting than the image of a lover throwing the cremated ashes of his father at the person who killed him.

Are Americans - is anyone - ready? Judging from the reaction of Sundance viewers, the answer is a resounding yes.