Roma

135 minutes

Spanish
Mixteco

Mexico
USA

Alfonso Cuarón's semi-autobiographical ROMA is an immersive, compassionate technical masterwork that, though set in the 1970s, speaks directly to contemporary Mexican society. Cleo (Yalitza Aparicio) works as a live-in maid and nanny for an upper-middle-class family in Mexico City's Roma district. When the family patriarch departs for an unusually protracted business trip, his wife, Sofia (Marina de Tavira), is left at home. While Cleo helps Sofia take care of the children, she is dumped by her self-absorbed boyfriend after he discovers she is pregnant. As both women face the possibility of single motherhood, it's obvious that their disparate levels of social status will differently impact their possible futures. Shot on 65mm digital black and white, ROMA subtly explores these ethnic and class divisions with a potent sense of emotional intimacy and historical acuteness. - TIFF

starring...

Yalitza Aparicio

Cleo

Yalitza Aparicio

Sra. Sofia

Diego Cortina Autrey

Toño

Nancy García García

Adela

Verónica García

Sra. Teresa

Carlos Peralta

Paco

Marco Graf

Pepe

Daniela Demesa

Sofi

Director

Alfonso Cuarón

Writer

Alfonso Cuarón

Cinematographer

Alfonso Cuarón

Producer

Alfonso Cuarón, Nicolás Celis, Gabriela Rodriguez

Editing

Alfonso Cuarón, Adam Gough

Casting

Luis Rosales

Production Design

Eugenio Caballero

Art Direction

Carlos Benassini, Oscar Tello

70% on the CINEMETER

70% - Dec 2, 2018

I hope Libo is still alive because that's a beautiful tribute. I appreciated the family - they seemed so authentic and alive and loveable. Cinematography was just amazing. That seemed like it was filmed from a kid's eye view - at least if it's an observant kid.
Washington, DC Member

Black & white underlined sense of menace. Absence of musical soundtrack underscored that real life is suspenseful enough. Women are indeed always alone! I also loved the close-ups with the cars. The "Galaxie" deserves an award of its own - for best close-ups!
Washington, DC Member

An amazing film. Ms. Aparicio was astounding. Was especially impressed by scenes pre, and during delivery of her stillborn child. Mr. Cuaron does not seem to think very highly of men. Excellent response by our moderator to those audience members who clearly do not see many "art" or indie films - that they are not for everyone.
Washington, DC Member

Extraordinary film. The subtle but spectacular photography and visual asterisks were surpassed only by the film's window onto essential humanity.
Washington, DC Member

I have rarely felt more like a voyeur - and my job is to observe people and events. I feel like I truly experienced and understand something I can't begin to know the historical context for. I'll see black & white for quite some time. So many echoes of Fellini, Bergman and Renoir. Alfonso Cuaron is going for greatness.
Washington, DC Member

Netflix