Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Writer: Alfonso Cuaron (Screenplay)
Starring: Yalitza Aparicio, Marina de Tavira, Diego Cortina Autrey, Carlos Peralta, Maco Graf, Daniela Demesa
Plot: A story that chronicles a year in the life of a middle-class family in Mexico City in the early 1970s.
Tagline – There are periods in history that scar societies and moments in life that transform us as individuals.
Runtime: 2 Hours 15 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Verdict: Grounded and Heart Breaking.
Story: Roma starts as we meet two maids Cleo (Aparicio) and Adela (Garcia) who work for Sr Antonio’s (Grediaga) family, keeping the house clean and helping look after the children for the lady of the house Sra Sofia (Tavira), they are welcomed into the home when the work is done, while also having their own lives outside for their days off.
When Cleo becomes pregnant her life is turned on its head, with Sofia offering the support needed she prepares for the next stage of her life, while seeing the devastation caused with in the city.
Thoughts on Roma
Characters – Cleo is a maid working for a rich family, she has been accepted into the household with open arms and is given here free time, she is enjoying the mix in her life until she ends up getting pregnant and must search for the father or face the reality of raising it alone. Sra Sofia is the lady of the house, she leaves Cleo to do the work around the house, while being a friend when needed, she helps where she can when Cleo becomes pregnant. Adela is the fellow maid and best friend to Cleo, they work well around the house and enjoy their days and nights out. The family dynamic is good because we get to see how each member of the family reacts to the situation Cleo is going through.
Performances – Yalitza Aparicio in the leading role is wonderful to see because she completely makes you understand her characters position in life and the difficult decisions she is going through in life. In fairness the whole cast make this feel like a real-life situation that never makes anything look out of place.
Story – The story follows a year in the life of maid Cleo as she is comfortable in her job until a moment changes everything in her life, a moment which will see her face first a difficult decision then a heart breaking one. This story shows us just how life can change for anyone in an instant, it can show us just how what seems like a normal life can be changed and is told in a way that only the victim can go through. The pace of the story keeps everything simple and from the point of view of Cleo which is important for this film because it is the year in her life with any events being how she reacts to them.
Settings – The film uses the settings well because we get to see the two different parts of the house that Cleo is operates in, be the small room she has or the large apartment the family lives in, as well as the time away from the house which shows both sides of life in Mexico.
Scene of the Movie – The beach.
That Moment That Annoyed Me – This is an odd complaint, this isn’t a casual view for anyone.
Final Thoughts – This is a grounded heart breaking movie that will show us the hardest year in the life of one lady, it isn’t for the faint of heart and will leave you with all the feelings in the world.
Overall: Tough watch, that can be shown to teach dramas.
Rating
