Roma (2018 film)

Roma is a 2018 Mexican drama film written, directed, produced, and edited by Alfonso Cuarón. The film stars Yalitza Aparicio and Marina de Tavira in leading roles. Set in 1970 and 1971, Roma follows the life of Cleo (Aparicio), a young live-in housekeeper for a middle-class family in the Colonia Roma neighborhood of Mexico City. The film is a semi-autobiographical account of Cuarón's childhood and the woman who helped raise him.

Roma is shot in black and white and features long takes and carefully composed shots, characteristic of Cuarón's directing style. It explores themes of class, race, domesticity, and motherhood, portraying the social and political turmoil of the era through the intimate lens of a personal story.

The film premiered at the 75th Venice International Film Festival, where it won the Golden Lion. It was subsequently released theatrically and streamed on Netflix, generating significant discussion about the distribution of films and the role of streaming services in cinema.

Roma garnered widespread critical acclaim, particularly for its direction, cinematography, performances, and screenplay. It received numerous awards, including the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film (now Best International Feature Film), Best Director for Cuarón, and Best Cinematography, also for Cuarón, who served as his own cinematographer. Yalitza Aparicio received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress, making her only the second Mexican actress to be nominated in that category. The film's success elevated Aparicio, a first-time actress, to international prominence. Roma is considered one of the best films of the 2010s.