Day 357 of the challenge! Roma lives up to the arthouse hype! It really is that beautiful, special film you keep hearing about.
So…what exactly can I say about Roma that hasn’t already been said all over the internet (probably in a much more concise manner too)? Everything about this film is absolutely beautiful! It’s beautifully acted, directed, and it’s probably the realest movie I’ve seen all year, as in it feels like you’re experiencing the story unfold in real-time thanks to Cuarón’s amazing black and white cinematography. And I mean that in the best way possible. It is by no means a slow movie at all. You’ll be surprised at how quickly it goes by, and maybe a bit sad to see it end.
It’s actually that real time effect in the cinematography that makes Roma work so well. There’s a purpose to every lingering shot and slow pan, to every seemingly random moment, be it to really understand what a character is feeling at that specific time, or as a bit of morbid foreshadowing of things to come. It allows to really take in the minutia of the world Cuarón takes us back to, a world teeming with cultural upheaval, subtle symbolism, and the nostalgia of an interesting (if at times scary and uncertain) childhood full of strong women making the best with what they’re given.
There’s so much more I would like to get into, but I’ll cut it short with a guarantee that no matter what kind of films you’re usually into, Roma will make you feel something as long as you open yourself to it. Can’t recommend it enough.