Roma (2018)
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Roma Movie Review
Roma is a 2018 Mexican drama film directed by Alfonso Cuaron and starring Yalitza Aparicio. It’s such a beautiful, cinematic movie, but far from the year’s finest achievement.
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“No matter what anyone else tells you,
know that we women are always alone“
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Let’s first state the positives and later I will explain why I still find this movie to be quite overrated. So obviously I first have to talk about the cinematography. Alfonso Cuaron both directed and shot this movie and although his direction is so strong which is to be expected from his undeniable caliber, his cinematography here is actually his biggest asset and the major reason to see this movie. He has to be congratulated for managing to make such a beautiful film even though he is not a cinematographer.
Roma is simply stunning to behold. Yes, it’s shot in gorgeous black-and-white, but that’s actually not the reason why it so pleasantly reminded of classic movies from fifties and before. It’s because of the style and epic nature to it. The movie is simply irresistibly cinematic, very grand, operatic and highly ambitious.
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Many of its shots should instantly go into the history books, especially when it comes to the art of cinematography itself. It’s a beautiful film that features many instantly memorable sequences and imagery such as the fire in the forest, the shot in the car, the shots of the city and most especially that beach embrace which is simply the film’s most unforgettable and also most emotional moment.
Roma also makes use of sound so well, but music heard outside or movies seen on television. The movie itself hasn’t got a score and that was a terrific choice that paid off and made the movie more intimate. I also found the editing so strong, the dialogue terrific, the realism evident and it captures its setting and time period superbly. It is obviously Cuaron’s most personal film and it shows in every frame. It’s also an exceedingly touching movie with many scenes being so sad and tragic and it explores achingly how women were neglected just a couple of decades ago.
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Yalitza Aparicio did a phenomenal job for someone who isn’t a professional actress at all, but a regular woman. She is very subtle, realistic and moving in the role of Cleo who is the heart and soul of this movie. The men are portrayed badly and deservedly so in this case, but I really liked the kids and the mother as they clearly care for her and love her. The movie doesn’t endorse class distinctions in Mexico or servants, it simply shows us that in some families the maids were loved and even adored.
Now is the time to talk about the film’s negative aspects. Yes, I adored its visuals and emotiveness. However, there is no denying that the first half is simply too uneventful and uninteresting. I wasn’t bored per say, though I do understand how some would be, but I simply wanted more dramatic, essential sequences instead of just depicting the city and the lifestyles.
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But the biggest problem is the script. The movie was simply way too simplistic for me when it comes to its plot and because he relied so much on its cinematic approach, the director forgot to tell a more sophisticated, more serious and more complex story. Maybe this was too personal for him, but I wanted much more. When you see similar maid movies such as ‘Jellyfish’ or ‘The Second Mother’ which are much more sophisticated flicks, this film just doesn’t suffice.
Alfonso Cuaron’s directing in Roma is reliably terrific, but it is his cinematography that deserves the most praise. This is the most beautifully shot film of the entire year and easily the most cinematic. It reminded me so pleasantly of old, classic movies due to its undeniable ambition, tenderness and impressive imagery in many of its gorgeously shot, highly memorable sequences. The movie is also exceedingly touching. However, because he relied so much on the visuals, Cuaron forgot to tell a more sophisticated, dramatic story which was here simply too simplistic for me. The first half is also rather uneventful. So in the end, I liked this film a lot and I simply adored its cinematography, but it still remains weakly written, overrated and it’s just not the best film of the year.
