Blankments’s review published on Letterboxd:
Still masterful, but not as captivating on rewatch. Perhaps that's simply because it's impossible to surprise you twice, but this go-around a few things really stand out:
- This isn't a slow movie at all; it's constantly moving and every scene moves the plot forward. It may be a naturalistic drama, but it has a very clear story it's telling, and if anything, the film is too fast-paced at points, but that's partially the point of it; the sole focus on Cleo even as other lives are happening around her.
- The subtle depiction of class here works well too, never really having attention brought to it, but it informing every one of Cleo's interactions throughout the film with how the camera lingers or how she will respond to someone. It's a realistic portrayal, and one worth commending.
- Finally though, I appreciate how the film keeps its distance from everyone, even Cleo, so that when the tragedy strikes, we are suddenly caught up in her emotions for the first time, and realize just how much we care about her.
Roma is a stunningly made movie, and one that is worth seeing in theaters if one ever has the chance. If one doesn't though, it's easy to imagine this film working everywhere, because of the sheer truth combined with the technical mastery on display. One of the masterpieces of the 2010s.
(And as a side note, having seen this twice in 70mm has me convinced I will honestly be thrown off if I ever watch this on Netflix. More than any blow-up I've seen, the film grain suits the cinematography beautifully and adds a true aesthetic that would be hard to replicate with the clear digital shots that actually make up the film.)
2020 70mm Film Festival #6
