To think that a black-and-white, Spanish-language film distributed by Netflix would be a frontrunner for Best Picture would have been unthinkable two years ago, but with Alfonso Cuarón (“Gravity”) at the helm, it is a reality. After hearing the buzz for “Roma” following its premiere at the Venice Film Festival, this film became one of the most anticipated of the entire year. The day it came out on Netflix, people who sat down and watched it were completely blown away.
There was clearly so much attention and effort put into making the opening shot as perfect as possible, with the intent of the shot being beauty because of the simplicity it conveys. The way Cuarón moves the camera is so precise, fluid and beautiful, using tracking shots to display the moving pieces in everyday life and aiming to capture as much as possible in a single shot.
The thing that impresses viewers the most about this approach is that, regardless of the events taking place in the frame, the camera is always moving at a slow and steady pace, as is the rest of this film. The way Cuarón captures this world combined with the sights and sounds make an experience that enthralls the viewer and creates a sense of tangibility, placing audiences in the scenarios and locations of the characters.
Speaking of the characters, this film would not have worked as well, as much as a technical marvel as it is, without a capable pair of leads. Yalitza Aparicio plays the main character Cleo, an indigenous maid to a middle-class Mexican family, and it is her story from start to finish. Considering that she was not an actress before this film, the authenticity of her performance really shines, fully engrossing the viewer into her journey and hardships. Marina de Tavira (“Complices”) is also fantastic as Sofía, the matriarch of the family Cleo works for. She portrays the character as a strong, supportive and loving woman, but not without her flaws, creating an extremely compelling character in the process.
It is clear how personal of a film this was to Cuarón, as it was based on his life growing up as a child in Mexico, and it shines with his direction. On top of how personal a story this is, the fact that he was able to present it on such a grandiose scale brings out the brilliance of it all. Taking place in the early ’70s among political upheaval in Mexico may have been a hard task to pull off, but the way in which Cuarón converges both the personal and political elements of the story proves that he is working on a level of craft higher than most of his peers.
One really has to be in the right frame of mind to watch this, as it is very contemplative and slow moving. For those who are patient, however, it is an extremely rewarding experience, both cinematically and emotionally. By the end of this film, audiences will be left in tears, moved by the profoundness of the events that occurred and the way the characters reacted to such events. There is no way “Roma” does not go home with the most awards at this year’s Oscars, as it deserves most of them. As opposed to some of the other films nominated for Best Picture, however, “Roma” is the one that stands out as a film that will endure the test of time and win the hearts of film lovers for years to come.
Image from Netflix via YouTube
