Roma, written and directed by Alfonso Cuarón, is an intimate portrait of the domestic life of a middle class family in Mexico City in 1971. While the home unravels from within, Cuarón depicts both tender moments and heart-wrenching pain to the viewer like they were a bystander in the living room watching the drama unfold before their very eyes.

The film explores themes of infidelity, separation, divorce, unwanted pregnancy, loss, grief, as well as themes of live, family, and self- sacrifice in both an honest and sober way, never trivializing or romanticizing.

Yalitza Aparicio (Cleo) and Marina de Tavira (Sra. Sofia) deliver powerful performances as heroines portraying contrasting qualities of strength and vulnerability oftentimes in the same scene. Cuarón weaves themes of the loneliness and fear of separation and abandonment, juxtaposed with themes of belonging and love of the family that remain as bonds are strengthened.

This film already has the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film locked up and should push for Best Picture as well. Cuarón should be a frontrunner for Best Director and the film’s stunning black-and-white cinematography further enhances and propels its storytelling. Aparicio received a nod for Best Actress and de Tavira received one for Best Supporting Actress. Cuarón was also nominated for Best Original Screenplay. Additional nominations for Best Production Design, Best Sound Editing, and Best Sound Mixing round out the ten total nominations received by the film.

I definitely recommend seeing this film if you have Netflix and give it a solid A rating.