Roma

This is undoubtedly a triumph in filmmaking, yes, but this isn’t just a technical marvel to me. It’s a film that packs an incredibly potent punch, a movie that truly resonates with me, especially because the film depicts aspects of the human experience that I, and my mother and my yaya (ate Mercy), endured. It’s just astounding that everything that happened in 1970-1971 Mexico still persists in every part of the world. Women are still being left alone by their lovers/husbands, political rallies are more necessary than ever, cinema trips are still go-to places for couples going on dates, and everything in between. Even the different emotions felt from going through devastating events, such as relief or heartbreak from stillbirth, still persist.  When Cleo gives birth and finds out her baby was born dead, I still cried. Cleo then learns from the doctor that her baby was a girl, and I immediately thought of my mother. She was born around the time period Roma is set, so imagining her as that dead baby made me tear up. I would not have been born. So many people would have felt something was missing from their lives. I love my mommy so much :( and then I got into thinking about the life that Cleo’s baby could have had. She could have been a maid like Cleo, or the pillar of support for her children that Sofia was. But there’s no doubt that she would have been as strong as Cleo and Sofia. Two women who have gone through so much, yet for some reason managed to stay resilient despite the challenges they have been given that would have broken the spirits of many. I really like Cuaron’s portrayal of women here, it’s perfectly, and unfortunately, realistic. I have seen my mom and my ate Mercy persist in the hardships they faced, and seeing Cuaron emphasize the idea that women can only rely on themselves (and each other!) with such compassion and empathy takes this film to a whole another level for me. I say this a lot but my god, I still haven’t found the words to fully, completely express everything I usually feel from watching this special film. Someday I will. But whenever I watch Roma, I feel a lot. I feel the pain of Cleo and Sofia, the fear Cleo felt, the hopelessness Sofia felt. But every time I watch this movie, I finish with a sense of clarity and a renewed spirit, just like how both women came back from the beach with a newfound sense of being. Roma is that impactful. But wait, let me talk about the cinematography here. There is a very special take: the long take where Cleo and the family goes out of the house, and Cleo runs after the boys, then she finds herself waiting for the stoplight to turn green. I just find it really magical. That one take really emphasizes the miniscule nature of Cleo’s situation and Sofia’s situation against the vastness of the world. It is a complete stunner. The cinematography is flashy, but I’ve always felt that it adds to the timelessness and universality of what’s portrayed in Roma. Just a breathtaking film.  Thank you, Alfonso Cuaron, for making Roma.