“No matter what they tell you, as women, we are always alone.” It’s a powerful statement from one matriarch to another in Alfonso Cuaron’s new film, ‘Roma.’ From the director who brought us Sandra Bullock floating in space in ‘Gravity’ comes a cinematic masterpiece. Shot in beautiful black and white photography makes the film look like a memory. If you surrender to it, the visuals are emotionally powerful. It’s a slice of life that reminisces about Cuaron’s childhood growing up in the affluent neighborhood named Colonia Roma in Mexico City. Whether you see it in a movie theater or on Netflix, ‘Roma’ is an unforgettable film that you don’t want to miss.
Right off the bat, the opening shot is breathtaking. Frame by frame, we are treated to a tapestry of imagery that builds to an emotional climax. You get the sense that you are in the hands of a craftsman that has mastered the medium of film. Cuaron shows us sudsy water across a tile floor that reflects the sky as an airplane flies overhead. As the camera pulls back, we see that the water is from a mop bucket that the maid uses to clean up dog poop from the driveway. The maid’s name is Cleo (Yalitza Aparicio) and it is her story that Cuaron artfully chronicles throughout the film.
The story takes place in the 1970s. Cuaron is meticulous in detail about the house he lived in with his mother Sofia (Marina de Tavira), his siblings Tonio (Diego Cortina Autrey), Paco (Carlos Peralta), Pepe (Marco Graf possibly playing Cuaron as a small boy) and his sister Sofi (Daniela Demesa). When the father comes home and carefully parks the big Ford Galaxy in the narrow driveway, all the kids including Cleo await his arrival. This scene and many others show the intricate detail the filmmaker uses to give the story life. At times, the neorealism is so astounding it feels like a dream.
The movie theater plays a central role in the story. There is one scene where the boys convince their grandmother to take them to see ‘Marooned,’ a lost-in-space sci-fi adventure starring Gregory Peck and Gene Hackman. Cuaron is paying homage to the movie and it undoubtedly influenced him to make ‘Gravity.’ Another scene shows Cleo on a date with her boyfriend, Fermin (Jorge Antonio Guerrero) at the movie theater. It is shot in a wide angle from the back of the seats as the movie plays on screen. Without giving spoilers, Cleo tells Fermin surprising news. She waits for his reaction. He instead stands up from his seat and excuses himself to use the restroom. Cuaron keeps the camera on Cleo for several minutes as the movie credits begin to roll. We soon realize that Fermin never comes back. You can cut the feeling of loneliness like a knife.
‘Roma’ is made up of little scenes that culminate into dramatic moments. There is a touching scene where Pepe and Cleo are lying head to head on a rooftop. She is not just a maid but an important mother figure in the child’s life. Sofia has distressing news to tell the children on a trip to the beach. She reveals that Antonio is not on a business trip but having an affair with another woman. The children are devastated. One of the most powerful scenes is at the ocean. The moment that they give each other a hug with Cleo is magnificent. She may be a hired maid but she is so much more to the clan. She suffers the family’s pain as well as her own.
‘Roma’ is a passion project by the versatile director Alfonso Cuaron. It’s an intimate drama that feels like it is happening in real time. Instead of using his go-to cinematographer Emmanuel Lubeski, Cuaron handles the camera himself. It is visually stunning to watch. The magic of cinema is to transport you into another time and place. ‘Roma’ succeeds by marinating the audience with the slower pace of life that builds to an emotional crescendo. It’s an artsy, beautiful work. It will be interesting to see if it gets recognized by the Academy this awards season.
