After the announcement of the Golden Globe and Independent Spirit Awards nominations, “Roma,” the epic Mexican film in Spanish, faces the possibility of being nominated only for Best Foreign Language Film. However, the winner of the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival is a strong contender in other categories, including Best Picture at the 2019 Oscars®.
The New York Film Critics Circle and the LA Film Critics Association agree that “Roma” is the best Picture of the year.
In recent years, the Oscars® have faced criticism for a lack of diversity and inclusion. In response, the Academy® has expanded memberships to include more individuals from the global film industry. These new international members could significantly improve the chances for foreign films like “Roma,” “Cold War,” and “Shoplifters.”
The Academy can’t please everyone with the most popular film award, and giving out an Oscar® isn't the “Miss Congeniality” contest. Controversially, the Academy often chooses to highlight a film's technical qualities over popular preference.
Members of each branch have specific standards for evaluating submitted films and awarding them fairly.
Academy® voters may overlook a black-and-white Spanish film without big stars, mainly if it depicts life in Mexico City in 1971.
The style of the Mexican film leans toward Italian Neorealism and may not appeal to many American viewers, but some are passionate fans of the director’s work. At the same time, members will recognize the talent, beauty, and craftsmanship in the Netflix production called “Roma.”
One main reason Guillermo del Toro’s “The Shape of Water” captivated voters last year was its seamless blend of filmmaking elements—direction, acting, cinematography, art design, costumes, makeup, sound, and music. Something similar could happen with “Roma.”
As long as the film made by the director of “Y tú mamá también” adheres to Academy rules, it can compete in other categories such as Best Original Screenplay, Editing, Cinematography, Set Design, Sound Design, Costumes, Directing, Acting, and even Best Picture.
One thing is undeniable: the visionary filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón created this masterpiece without revealing the entire script to his actors. A challenge that only great directors can pull off.
Understanding the movie might require multiple viewings, mainly because we need to grasp the significance of the film’s setting and time—Mexico City, 1971—two of the key elements in this complex film.
The richness of the production in “Roma” is evident in the authentic reconstruction of Colonia Roma and its surroundings.
The director worked tirelessly with Oscar®-winning set designer Emilio Caballero (“Pan’s Labyrinth”), who previously reconstructed the devastated area of the Tsunami in Asia for the film “The Impossible.” More recently, Emilio did an excellent job in the fantastic movie “A Monster Calls.”
Creating the interiors and exteriors for “Roma” was a monumental artistic effort, especially since the “colonia” was demolished after the earthquakes in 1985 and 2017.
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| Roma ©2018 Netflix |
To build all the streets, hospitals, and movie theaters, Alfonso Cuarón and Emilio Caballero had to rely on pictures, videos, newspapers, and memories of their childhood.
The filmmakers want us to discover specific details that the film has but doesn’t tell us openly.
Roma is a town located in the middle of Mexico City. It is a transit hub where people pass by on their way to the “Zócalo,” also known as Plaza de la Constitución. People’s destination is the Civic Center, which we don’t see in the picture. That place is considered Ground Zero for individuals to publicly celebrate, dance, vote, protest, and demonstrate their political concerns.
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| "Roma" actresses, Yalitzia Aparicio (Cleo), Nancy Garcia (Adela), María de Tavira (Señora Sofía). Photo José Hermosillo ©2018 Festival in LA |
The story of “Roma” takes place during a turbulent period under the “populist” or “leftist” presidency of Luis Echeverria (1970-1976). He was responsible for the “Corpus Christi Massacre,” carried out by government-sponsored and CIA-trained units called the “Falcons,” also known as the “Alcones,” as shown in the film. More than one hundred students were killed.
Echeverria was elected “democratically,” but also played a significant role in the riots of 1968. The army killed dozens of students protesting in the streets of the Tlatelolco neighborhood in 1968.
These turbulent times in Mexico included hosting the 1968 Olympic Games and the 1970 Soccer World Cup, as well as building the subway. These events contributed to setbacks in Mexico’s economy.
The government aimed to present a different image of Mexico to the world. In the 1970s, the people bore the consequences of the heavy burden those investments caused.
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In Oscar history, a film in Spanish has never been nominated for Best Picture. There is a list of movies that were “partially” spoken in Spanish but never won: “The Treasure of Sierra Madre” (1948), “Giant” (1956), “The Postman/Il Postino” (1995), “Traffic” (2000), and “Babel” (2006). Another example of a foreign-made film nominated for Best Picture is the silent movie set in Hollywood, “The Artist.” A French, USA, and Belgian production, it won Best Picture at the 2011 Academy Awards. It was a French victory for many.
Therefore, a foreign language film released in U.S. theaters a week before December 25th can qualify to be nominated in most categories. “Roma” aims to make history by becoming the first film entirely spoken in Spanish to be nominated for Best Picture. Alfonso Cuarón will not only be nominated for Best Director but also is the frontrunner to win the Oscar. Additionally, he will be nominated for Best Cinematography and Original Screenplay.
Related Articles:
“Roma” Anarchy and Repression in an Epic B&W Mexican Drama
“Roma” is Mexico’s Official Entry to the 91st Academy Awards®
Roma and Ten New Mexican Trailers
My favorite movie of all time... Long live “Roma”
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