Roma (2004)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Adolfo Aristarain

Writers:

Adolfo Aristarain (story)
Mario Camus (screenplay)

Release Date:

1 October 2004 (Spain)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Joaquín Góñez, a novelist in his sixties recalls his emotions, his wild years in Buenos Aires, the memories of old friends, the meaning of loyalty and the intimate relationship with his mother, Roma.

Plot Keywords:

1960s | Writer | 1950s

Awards:

10 wins & 12 nominations

Cast

Juan Diego Botto	...	Manuel Cueto / Joaco
Susú Pecoraro	...	Roma Di Toro
José Sacristán	...	Joaquín Góñez
Agustín Garvíe	...	Joaco
Vando Villamil	...	Áteo Di Toro
Marcela Kloosterboer	...	Reneé
Maximiliano Ghione	...	Guido
Marina Glezer	...	Alicia
Gustavo Garzón	...	Joaquín father
Carla Crespo	...	Betty
Marcos Mundstock	...	Gustavo Smirnoff
Raúl Rizzo	...	Doctor Cassano
Jean Pierre Noher	...	Pando
Alberto Jiménez	...	Publisher (son)
María Galiana	...	Portera

Also Known As:

Alma de bohemio (Argentina) (working title)
Roma, Um Nome de Mulher (Brazil) [pt]

Runtime:

Spain:155 min | Argentina:155 min | Spain:148 min (DVD edition)

Country:

Argentina | Spain

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Brazil:14 | Spain:13 | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Buenos Aires, Federal District, Argentina

Company:

Tesela Producciones Cinematográficas

Movie Connections:

References Written on the Wind (1956)

Not that special

This movie has been called "the event of the year" in film industry and I am not sure if it is up to this statement. Of course Aristarain knows what he is doing, the cast is really good (even Botto, whom I hated in "Martin (hache)"), photography, edition. It is a very beautiful product indeed. But the plot seemed a bit weak and the pace is quite slow. I didn't get it: if the intention was to pay homage to that great woman that Roma is, it wasn't fair enough, it was too focused on Joaquin; if it was to tell the story of Joaquin, the I couldn't see the point, because I don't think it was a deep story, with any turning point; then, if Aristarain was trying to show the history of Argentina, he was quite vague and used too many time jumps. Finally, if he was trying to do all three things, he of course was being too ambitious! I'm sure a lot of people was waiting for Aristarain's next movie. Will they be pleased? I really don't know. Maybe he reached his peak with "Un lugar en el mundo". What I'm quite sure about is that, if this film was the event of the year, I will be very disappointed in Argentinian film till 2005.