Roma (2018)

Roma
Directed by Alfonso Cuarón
Written by Alfonso Cuarón
2018/Mexico
Esperanto Filmoj/Participant Media
First viewing/Netflix

[box] Sra. Sofía: We are alone. No matter what they tell you, we women are always alone.[/box]

I haven’t met a movie as full as surprises in a long time.

I knew nothing about the story going in and I think that is the way to see it.  The setting is Mexico City, 1971.  At the center of the story is Cleo (Yalitza Aparacio), a young domestic worker in the household of a physician Sr. Antonio, his wife Sra. Sofia (Marina de Tavera) and four children.  Cleo is one of several servants and has a particularly close relationship with the children.

Sr. Antonio soon departs for Quebec and never returns. Sra. Sofia is left to pick up the pieces.  Cleo has troubles of her own.

Cuaron specializes in gorgeous wide panning shots that capture the detail and scope of the setting before closing in on the action in each scene.  The effect is dreamlike and yet hyper-realistic.  I tried and failed several times to anticipate what happened next and found it to be one delight after another.  Absolutely recommended.

Roma won Academy Awards in the categories of Best Foreign Language Picture; Best Director; and Best Cinematography.  It was nominated in the categories of Best Picture; Best Actress; Best Supporting Actress; Best Original Screenplay; Best Production Design; Best Sound Editing; Best Sound Mixing.