TIFF '18 Film Review - ROMA

Academy Award-winning director Alfonso Cuaron gets very personal detailing life growing up in the early Seventies Mexico City. At the centre of the piece are two women that one feels were based on real-life influences on Cuaron. The opening sequence of what turns out to be the garage floor being washed sucks in the viewer. Then Cuaron gives one of his trademark panoramic camera moves to introduce the audience to the family home setting. At the centre is Nanny/ housekeeper Cleo (Yalitza Aparicio). She cares more for this family than she does for herself. Sofia (Marina de Tavira) the woman of the house is the other lead. She is an advocate for her three boys and girl while being very active outside of the home.

Cuaron's monochrome lens captures the high frantically paced daily events of Mexico City in 70-71. The street where the family resides is a bevel of activity. Marching bands, residents, tourist, and locals live life just outside of the families gated tile floored garage. One nighttime scene where Cleo takes the kids to the movies showcases busy streets, visual and audible stimuli all evidence of a people and a city that's doing well. In her time off Cleo gets herself into trouble with a friend of a friend Fermin (Jorge Antonio Guerrero) who fancies himself as a martial arts master. The father of the house Dr. Antonio (Fernando Grediaga)is announced as his gas guzzler Ford Galaxy rumbles into the garage bearly clearing the walls. He emerges from the car complaining about dog poop but calms surrounded by his family watching TV after dinner.

Cleo's story deepens after her encounter with Fermin. He disappears while the pair are at the movies unwilling to face his responsibilities. She is fearful of telling the family but Sofia rushes to show her support. Her travels take her to her village in search of Fermin then into the middle of a violent confrontation between students and police at a critical time for her health.

Cuaron's fingerprints are on just about every aspect of ROMA. His lead actress had never acted before.  He chose to go in the complete opposite direction of his highly successful Academy Award winning star driven space based prior film. This story is about the ups and down of a family that will have universal appeal. A true work of art by a master of the craft.

***** 5 Star Film

 ROMA | Alfonso Cuaron | U.S.A.| 2018 | 135 Minutes.

Tags: 1970-1971, Mexico City, Movies, Martial Arts, Shower Rod, FORD, Pregnancy Holiday, Student Protest, El Halconazo, Tree Pose.