Roma (2018)
Stars: Yalitza Aparicio, Marina de Tavira, Diego Cortina Autrey
Runtime: 135 minutes
Synopsis: Follows a maid's life in Mexico during the early 1970s.
- Performances: 9/10
Why? Only a handful of actors were able to grab an Oscar nomination for their debut on the big screen, with Barkhad Abdi being the last one to achieve this back in 2014. I have a feeling that Yalitza Aparicio's name will be added to that list. Helped by a wonderful supporting cast, she was able to fully transform into the main character of Cleo, whose complexity and emotional baggage require the acting skills of someone who's been doing this for years.
- Screenplay: 9/10
Why? Filled with metaphors and emotionally heavy scenes, one can immediately tell that the story told is a very personal one. Alfonso Cuaron even admitted that about 90% of the film's narrative was based on his childhood in Mexico. And even though it might not be accessible to everyone, there is no denying that Cuaron delivers on his promise in a way that couldn't have been written in a better way. His vision came to life through beautifully layered characters as well as subtle metaphors that will go unnoticed if watched without attention. I personally had to pause the film a few times to understand what Cuaron meant with every shot, and will probably have to watch the film a second time to understand it fully. The great Guillermo Del Toro, a fellow cinephile and director who much like Cuaron, grew up in Mexico during that same era, said that he considers "Roma" to be one of his 5 favorite movies of all time, a statement I completely understand even if I don't necessarily believe that anyone who watches it will echo it.
- Costumes/Makeup: 7/10
- Editing: 9/10
Why? A lot of people will maybe feel that the movie's a bit too long or suffers from pacing issues, but I never felt that one single shot was out of place or unnecessary. Everything contributes to the story's narrative in a way and the film's editor knows how to emphasize it by using long, unedited takes to add to its rawness.
- Cinematography: 10/10
Why? If there's one thing about the movie that will gain everyone's immediate respect, it's its cinematography. Shot by Cuaron himself, the camera didn't only beautifully capture every single scene featured in the black and white film, but felt like a character of its own as well. It played a vital role in translating every emotion through long takes and camera movement that relied a lot on panning, which, according to Cuaron, was used to "avoid subjective depiction of the period". "Roma" starts with a shot that uses reflection in a brilliant way I've never seen before, and never stop surprising me with equally dazzling shots that made it the visual feast it ended up being.
- Score/Soundtrack: N.A.
Why? Barely present in the movie. A decision that helps the film maintain its very realistic depiction of Cleo's journey.
FINAL GRADE: 9/10
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