The Secret Life of Words

I just watched "Elegy" while being at work. Not sure. I like Ben Kingsley, but rather loath Penelope C. I try to remember the book, I've read that years ago. Did I like it? Well, obviously it did not really impress me, I couldn't even really remeber while watching the story on screen.
But I like the director. I liked her previous pictures. Just can't think of her name right now. Isabel C-something. Complicated spanish (basque?) name. Her first movie, "My life without me" was one of the best and saddest I had seen in a long time. Maybe the best by a female director. I don't know why there are so little really good female film makers. Beside her I can only think of Susanne Bier from Denmark - who is really really great too. Just two? That's depressing.