"Cuarón has an exquisite way to move the camera in every scene"

If there is a word that can be used to describe Cuaròn’s Roma it would undoubtedly be sublime, in the film shot entirely in black and white, the camera follows the everyday life of a well established family in Mexico in the 1970s.

At first impact, as soon as the credits start rolling, the story doesn’t seem to be leaving any lingering impression, although a deep sense of peace for a happy ending is immediately felt, but there is no sudden reflection that sparks after watching the film. The reality of it, and Cuaròn’s desire behind such a project, sneaks up on you and the film acquires a beautiful and deeper meaning only after a deeper, introspective analysis.

Roma is a delicate story that is inspired by the director’s memory of his life in Mexico when he was young. This project is a love letter to his Country, his family and his town. A delicate celebration of a time passed, painted with a touch of melancholia and unconditional love.

Cuarón has an exquisite way to move the camera in every scene. He lingers on small nuances: a smile, an everyday chore or a small gesture of love between two women, weaving a strong bond between the story and the audience and capturing its attention effortlessly.
 Family and women are clearly celebrated in this feature.

In fact, although the story follows a Mexican family, the dynamics in the household are clear from the start: grandmother, mother and maid are at the centre of everything; they take care of every small thing, including each other. Their strength and endurance are celebrated throughout the film and, even though they live in a time and a place in which women had to depend on men, the two protagonists have to fend for themselves when life unexpectedly throws curve balls at them.

Both Yalitza Aparicio and Marina de Tavira play Cleo and señora Sofia with impeccable simplicity, at first their relationship seems only one between employer and maid, however both of them rescue one another when life gets in the way and they have to overcome every hardship life throws at them. 

In Roma, society, history and politics become the frame that holds the story together. Cuarón finds a way to describe 1970s Mexico without falling into the melodramatic and keeping it as real as possible. He makes the audience aware of the tragic situation without losing the focus from Cleo and Sofia. Their fictional story becomes intertwined with Mexico’s history and some of the real events are catalytic moments in Cleo and Sofia’s life. 


Winner in the best movie category during the Venice film Festival, Roma is a delicate and emotional film from the masterful Cuarón dedicated to his country and his family. It is a movie that celebrates every woman’s resilience and their innate sense of survival in their ordinary life and it does so with the utmost respect and love.