Almost nothing in close-up - I think the scene where Cleo has come home from hospital and is sitting on her bed the only one. A film at arm's length, somehow amazingly personal. But for such a personal, small film it's huge. What do I mean by that? It's a simple story of a maid who looks after a family in Mexico. But when she's taken by granny to buy a cot, there's that incredible riot scene through the window - we don't go down to see it, because the focus is on the maid. We just see it through the window like everyone else. So Cuaron has organised this huge scene as a background to the story.
Those really long takes are amazing, especially the birth scene, in which the background is just enough out of focus.. In fact I think the one at the end in the sea is two - there's a wave which covers the action and I think it's there to cover an edit... but even so, it's immaculately matched up.
Otherwise pretty much well covered here. Filmed in that slowly expository European way, it's absurdly good.
Talking of absurd...
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