Ph.D. To: "Roma", Director, Screenplay and Photography: Alfonso Cuaron, Cast: Yalitza Aparicio, Marina de Tavira, Nancy Garcia, Veronica Garcia, Jorge Antonio Guerrero, Mexico/USA, 2018
Life can be an "adventure"
The Mexican film "Roma" has definitely marked the last year, although it appeared in Venice (in September), where it won the "Golden Lion". And yet, it was enough for this film to gain the best critics, to impose with his visual style and impeccable, complex narration; it was enough for this film story to get those epic dimensions, which it actually owns, and to return us to the time of a completely different storytelling. Namely, this film of Alfonso Cuarón managed to impose, not only because it is truly remarkably shoot, but also because it carries some different values, that seemingly not is new, yet with their freshness, courage and vision brought one a different (film) atmosphere, but also realistic, that of the observer, that of viewers, whose point of view has long been shifted.
Not that it is something new. On the contrary. Many even see the soap opera or TV novel in this film, but it does not true. Why? Because Cuaron know very accurately set the boundaries and define film art, which carries the depth in it, carries the duration, brings the characters in its essence, not intrigue. "Roma" is one such piece of life, which includes nostalgia, pathetic, and emotionality, but not as a result of attraction, but of necessity, that real, real need. That need with which each of us can easily be identified.
"Roma" is a very layered film, which in itself so quietly and unintrusive carries a great number of stories, personal, as well as social, political, social (opstestveni), and above all, engaged. The epic dimensions in his film do not bring the past time, but the past events. Everything that through time (which is actually short) will change so much, but only as a result of the need to live further and to find a motive, cause, hope, faith. All his characters go through certain transformations, although in fact that what happens is connected in their own way with everyone, but it has a completely different reflection, due to age, origin, needs.
In a way it is a female movie, although the male characters in it are very strong. Cuaron will succeed in something that rarely succeeds, tell the movie through the eyes of the housekeeper, but as (seemingly) subordinate and through the eyes of the children, and through our eyes, through the eyes of the observer. Since he is an observer in this biographical story (located at the beginning of the 1970s in the province of Roma in Mexico City), although he is a child. An observer of life, of destinies, of the unusual development of events, incomprehensible to children, but often also for adults.
Through extraordinary selected details, telling in real time, he succeeds on that way bringing in the viewer into the story, which literally feels so close, so recognizable, so emotional, but even so one’s own. The film is full of symbols, at times absurd and comic, but in fact very cruel, pain and real. How to clear the house when events in it are not at all what they look like. How to bring life and joy when the world around you is full of prejudices, how to find yourself at a time in political farce, at a time of embarrassing manipulation, how to look forward when the protest of students in such a ruthless way ends up in blood (recalling the Corpus Christy Massacre).
But the power is precisely that the film is not of such a kind. He does not speak directly about these topics, nor condemns, nor tries to seek or find offenders. No. It is a film about life, although it goes back to the 1970s and in the background of such an "innocent", but exceptional way, manages to bring time with all its charactertics, however, it is primarily a film for two women, despite everything flowing further and in which their place must be found by everyone, those "major" and those "secondary" protagonists, let's not say victims, because they are not. Life continues with all its irregularities, injuries, illogicalities, nebulosities.
Indeed, Cuaron's film is, above all, warm, simple, straightforward, where employers and housekeepers share a real common fate, but they really represent one family. A family that, despite all its differences, will be found in the swirl of injustices, a family in which the two women will experience their tragedies, a family that will be at a crossroads, but although different fates, however, their love, need, understanding, unity and care for each other will make you feel painful, but good. That's why many misunderstand that film because happyendings do not exist. After all, they do not exist here either, but from life is taken what, as a personal struggle, as a kind of adventure (as Mrs. Sofia presents that to the children) can bring us faith and hope. It does not always the end have to be different, because nothing ends. Life goes on, it just brings bitter experiences, memories, emotions that may never be forgotten, but they can bring sadness and happiness, everything depends on what you want in that moment believe.
"Roma" is a powerful film, with extraordinary main and secondary characters, with fantastic scenes that can really become cult, with such a power of narration, both narrative and visual. The black and white picture carries itself such colorfull that works incredibly, because the author incorporates so many stories into them, so fates, whose influences are different, depending on the life moments in which everyone can be found. Cuaron manages to capture life through numerous associations, through so well composed scenes, through seemingly unimportant conversations, emotions, or moments, but in fact so precisely and so strongly manages to capture everything that we all face in our course maturate, during our crisis or seeking exit. Life is a kaleidoscope that Cuarron so precisely, so convincingly and so incredibly carries through this film, which does not actually deceive tears, but so strong emotions, because they contain part of each of us.
Suncica Unevska
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