ROMA   4.0***

Well - to start - 'Roma' is one of the most beautifully filmed movies I have seen in a while. It is done in black and white and every shot is masterfully executed, blocked, framed, and detailed. The movie was directed, written, produced and edited by Alfonso Cuarón ( he Directed the awesome “Gravity” and “Children of God” movies). Amazingly Cuarón was also the cinematographer  and  did a phenomenal job.  Right from the opening shot I knew I was in for something very special. Cuarón's  long takes are masterful. Sometimes he lingers on a subject beautifully to emphasize a point, or makes a small adjustment to a shot - giving it a completely different meaning. The symmetry and pure brilliance of every single scene is a cinematic experience.

With that having been said, I should mention that this is a rather simple story that moves at a slow pace for 2 hours and 14 minutes and many people may find it TOO slow and even boring However the slow pace allows the awesome artistic and technical features to shine and stand out. The other thing is that there is full male frontal nudity, not for a fleeting moment but for a couple of minutes while the man performs martial arts to impress his girl.  Finally, it is a Mexican made movie so it is in Spanish with English subtitles. So be forewarned.

The story takes place in Mexico City in the early 70s, and is about Cleo, a young Mexican housemaid who takes care of a family of four children, along with their parents and maternal grandmother ( and a dog that poos more than most any other dogs) . The film is set in a time of political unrest and that backdrop adds to the chaos of what occurs in Cleo's life.   The film shows her routines as the housemaid, her trials and tribulations at work and love, and how her life changes when she becomes pregnant. She becomes so accustomed to her work routine that she practically cares and looks after the kids as if they were here own family. And family is definitely one of the themes in this film. Also, another of Roma's themes is the perseverance of women within the societal stronghold of men. With its unapologetic display of evil deeds at the expense of women going criminally unnoticed every day, Roma is, in a way, a love letter to say that Cuarón did not forget the multifaceted strength of the women in his life.  

The simplicity of this film is captured beautifully with the highly skilled cinematography, which Cuaron developed by himself. Every frame is methodically crafted in the form of a black and white portrait that perfectly reflects the people and the settings.. Cuarón's visual designs appear throughout the film, tying the somewhat loose plot into a resounding and heart wrenching force. He uses planes, water, cars, dogs, and themes of birth and death to represent metaphorically and sometimes literally how characters feel and their relationships to each other .

Rated R for graphic nudity, some disturbing images, and language.

NOTE: This Mexican movie will be Oscar nominated for Best Foreign Film and could even be nominated for Best Picture,  Director and Cinematography and other categories. It shows up in most Top 10 Movies of 2018.It was backed by Netflix and can be found there and is also playing in some theaters.

I read that the title of the movie, “ROMA” when spelled backwards is “amor” which in Spanish means “love”.