Roma

Before I talk once again about the movie itself, I will share my amazement over the Oscar acting nominations this got. Yalitza Aparicio and Marina de Tavira were nominated. Aparicio’s character, the housekeeper, is subtle as she mostly acts with her eyes, with how she moves her head, and with little dialogue that she usually speaks in a low volume. It absolutely is not the type of performance that gets awards attention, much especially garner Oscar talk. Tavira’s character, the matriarch, gets a lot more to do as her family is mostly the center of attention. It is amazing to me that Tavira, as an actress, managed to nab an Oscar nod considering how even Aparicio, the lead, seemed in danger of missing out on an nomination herself. Tavira has two big scenes where she gets to fully demonstrate her skill but her performance is also still a subtle acting showcase that is easy to write off.  Just stunning that both actresses, for foreign language performances in a slow burn black/white 2hr 15min drama where nothing substantial happens, got Oscar nominations! Anyway, the film itself is a directorial achievement. It inspired 17 year old me at August 2021 to make films that speak about the human experience. It is an achievement to make a film about a housekeeper and a family in 1970s Mexico feel so universal and grand and of magnitude. Roma’s cinematography is the best cinematography I have ever seen in my whole life, trust. I cried as well, but obviously because I could sympathize due to lived experiences. The political rally just made me tear up because I am around the same age of those who were in the streets, and it perplexes me that even though humanity has come so far, political rallies at this time are still common and necessary. The universality and the timeless nature of it all was enough to bring me to tears. One of my favorite films. Absolutely not rewatchable because of its slow pacing but every rewatch has just been as rewarding as the previous. Stellar, marvelous masterpiece.