Rated R | 135 mins.
Directed by Alfonso Cuarón
Starring Yalitza Aparicio, Marina de Tavira
Roma just may be the best film of 2018. When it debuted at the Venice Film Festival in August, a lot of buzz was built around it and critics were attaching the word "Oscar" to the title. It now makes a lot of sense, especially after it received the prestigious Golden Lion. The Netflix original received a record breaking 10 Oscar nominations for the streaming service, including Best Picture and Best Director.
Set in an upscale neighborhood in Mexico City in 1970, the film follows a year in the life of a Mexican maid, Cleo, who takes care of the day-to-day chores at the home of a middle-class family, where she also lives. It's apparent from the start that she's been with this family for years and is basically just another member of it. Cleo earns an honest living working an honest job and we get to grow up with her over that one stressful year.
There isn't much more to talk about without spoiling the movie, but it's fabulously well done. The direction from Cuarón is the best part about it. The slow, side-to-side panning is so simple, yet so effective. He let's the camera do all the talking, especially if you're not a Spanish speaker. Cuarón also held down the cinematography of the film and knocked it out of the park. And then to get unknown female actresses at the forefront, Aparicio's first ever acting gig, and then go on to earn Oscar nominations is phenomenal.
The plot of the film may seem mundane and average, but watching and experiencing it through Cuarón's lens is something else. You'll laugh, you'll definitely cry, and it'll have you appreciating life just a little bit more. ★★★★★
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