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| Cleo |
Last weekend I watched the award-winning black and white film, "Roma". Directed by Alfonso Cuarón, the film is semi-autobiographical and set in the suburbs of Mexico City in 1970 and 1971. Delivered in the Spanish language, "Roma" required English subtitles.
It has nothing to do with the capital of Italy or European gypsies. The title "Roma" refers to the Colonia Roma neighbourhood of Mexico City in which Alfonso Cuarón grew up. The film is dedicated to his family's housekeeper - Libo upon whom the main character "Cleo" Gutiérrez played by Yalitza Aparicio is closely based.
"Roma" is lovingly crafted and it contains many memorable images. Sometimes the camera seems to slide along the pavement capturing the other side of the street with smooth fluency, showing us the sunny vitality of Mexico's capital.
There is laughter and family quarrels, an unwanted pregnancy, a trip to the seaside, trips to the cinema, a marital breakdown, student riots and a giant plastic lobster. Cuarón has packed it all in. It is an affectionate homage to his childhood.
One newspaper reviewer said, "Roma is thrilling, engrossing, moving – and just entirely amazing, an adjectival pileup of wonder. He has reached back into his own childhood to create an intensely personal story."
Shirley, Frances and I are not film critics but we like good films. All three of us appreciated the cinematography but in terms of plot we were left somewhat bemused. Where was "Roma" going? What did it have to say? Ultimately it seemed like a slice of life with no real beginning or end or indeed purpose. It just drifted along, albeit tenderly imbued with one man's sentimental sense of a life now left behind and I think we can all relate to that.
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| Alfonso Cuarón |
We haven't watched it yet, but I suppose a slice-of-life can be a plot of sorts. I'll let you know after this weekend!
ReplyDeleteI expect you will really like it Steve.
DeleteWe watched it, and enjoyed it, but for some reason I don't remember much about it at all! Maybe we should watch it again this weekend.
ReplyDeletePerhaps the reason you can't remember is that you were snogging with Gregg on the sofa at the time.
DeleteI thought that it was a beautiful film. For me, one of the things it had to say was that it is not blood that creates family- the real kind of family which watches over, protects, and sometimes saves. That the gentle sort of love a young woman shows a family can make her a stronger and more valuable part of it than a father or a husband.
ReplyDeleteI have to say that the one scene that keeps returning to my mind is the one where all of the men practicing martial arts are trying so hard to recreate the famous fighter's tree pose and they cannot while unnoticed by them is a pregnant village girl who easily reaches up to the sky with her arms and hands and balances on one unwavering leg, her foot planted firmly on the earth.
Yes that moment very much registered with me too Ms Moon. And I agree that the look of "Roma" is indeed beautiful.
DeleteSounds like a French film, they often seem to have no particular plot but can be charming nonetheless.
ReplyDelete"Charming" is a good word to use when describing "Roma".
DeleteMy Grandson asked me at the weekend if I had seen this film. The way you describe it I think I may treat us to it at the weekend.
ReplyDeleteBriony
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Don't expect a great "story" Briony...but it does have a special charm.
DeleteSounds like a good movie to see. I'll watch for it.
ReplyDeleteYou had better ask for The Micro Manager's permission first.
DeleteThanks for that I didn't know much about the film...
ReplyDeleteI thought it may be about the Roma community in some city
I know the one in Sheffield has its own challenges
The Roma people - mostly from Slovakia - appear to have descended upon Page Hall near Firth Park. There have been tensions with the local Pakistani community. I guess that that local drama could also make a worthy film.
DeleteI started watching "Roma" on Netflix a few weeks ago...but put it on hold...bookmarked to return to it when I'm in the mood for it.
ReplyDeleteI subscribe to the streaming services...Stan, Netflix and Foxtel Now.
The movie has received much publicity over the past few months...and, of course, as I always do...I watched the Academy Awards presentations last Monday, live...our time. I never fail to watch the Oscars.
In England, the Oscars are being awarded at 3 or 4am so very few people stay up to watch it all.
DeleteIt began here at 11 am.
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