Netflix's Roma Delivers A Moving And Inspirational Story That Feels Both Poignant And Timely

      When it comes to Hollywood directors, very few carry the distinction of being as versatile, well rounded, and renowned as visionary filmmaker Alfonso Cuaron. Cuaron's resume of films is one that's unquestionably striking to audiences and film lovers as his works consist of mostly acclaimed films such as 1994's A Little Princess, 1998's Great Expectations, Yu Tu Mama Tambien, Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban, Children Of Men, and Gravity. As Cuaron's body of work shows, he's a filmmaker of impeccable talent with him being able to shift from directing family-themed films to low-key dramas as well as big-budget science fiction themed films. With Gravity putting him at his peak as a filmmaker in regards to both critical acclaim and box office stature, audiences wondered what Cuaron's next project would be to continue his hot streak as a filmmaker. It would take a total of five years after the release of Gravity but Cuaron manages to work his magic and make lightning strike twice with Netflix's Roma. Premiering at the 75th Venice International Film Festival on August 30 2018, the film received a limited theatrical run in the United States before premiering on Netflix in December 2018. Receiving unanimous critical acclaim, the film made history with becoming the first Netflix film to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture. Despite losing it to Green Book that year, Roma received 10 nominations total with it ultimately collecting a total of three Oscar wins including a Best Director win for Cuaron, Best Foreign-Film, and Best Cinematography. For audiences who've caught Roma since it's initial release on Netflix, it's no mystery as to why the film was so adored and well-received. The film is powerful, extremely well-crafted, and inspiring with its story centering around the journey of a middle-class Latin maid during the 1970's era with themes and messages that feel relevant to today's world. The film also further cements Cuaron's stature as being a filmmaker of pure craftsmanship as he not only writes, but produces and directs the project making it one of his more personal and well-made films as the story is essentially molded by his own childhood experiences growing up. The end result proudly stands as being one of the best films of 2018, hands down with a powerful message that says those who are deemed less significant in others lives can ultimately become the ones that hold families together and ultimately strengthen them.

      The plot for Roma takes place during the 1970's era with the film chronicling a year in the life of a young maid named Cleo (Played by Yalitza Aparicio in an Oscar nominated performance), who not only looks after a broken family struggling to stay together when the husband/father abandons them with his mistress, but the maid also ends up becoming pregnant during a brief but ill-fated relationship when the father of their child abandons her as well. Set against the backdrop of political turmoil in the Roma district of Mexico during the 1970-1971 period, Cuaron shapes and molds the story to mirror his own personal experiences with his upper-middle-class family life during that era with the film almost serving as an autobiographical drama. One can argue that this is perhaps the most personal of Cuaron's films as he manages to craft an emotional story that's beautiful told with utter perfection, but also uses it to reflect on his own past while carrying over some heavy themes that feel timely with today's world and how servants or maids are looked upon as being. The film carries with it stellar acting, steady directing that feels intimate allowing the actors complete freedom to play their characters as well as controlling the scene, and has both cinematography and editing that feels both breathtaking as well as giving the story the appropriate beat. Roma is a story that's told with patience, conviction, and carries with it absolute heart and sincerity in presenting it's story on the big screen. It is a personal journey that draws audiences in and leaves them with a greater sense of understanding and acceptance after experiencing the journey of the main character.

      The films greatest strength lies within the performances of its main cast, particularly from two strong actresses that garnered rightful Oscar nominations for their amazing work here. The films strongest performance comes from its main star, whose unquestionably the heart and soul of the film. Yalitza Aparicio does a terrific job playing Cleo Gutierrez, the families maid who experiences a journey that's both life-changing and inspiring with the strength of her character ultimately being tested. Aparicio beautifully crafts a character whose struggling to find her own footing in life with her perfectly conveying all the required emotions for the character that the script calls for. It's almost near impossible for the audience to watch her performance and not feel some type of compassion or empathy for her character as she only means to do well for the family she cares for, as well as be accepted by the man she bears a child with. The films other impressive performance comes from Marina de Tavira (Who along with Yalitza, also received a well-deserved Oscar nomination for Best Supporting​ Actress) as Sofia, the mother of the family that Cleo cares for. Tavira does exceptionally well with her role of playing a wife/mother in disbelief of what's happening to her family while continuously reassuring her kids that their father will return despite her growing realization that it's over. Tavira does a solid job of showcasing all the different emotions of her character from being angry to heartbroken with her character walking a similar arc to Cleo's. Both Aparicio and Tavira work well off each other along with showcasing strong chemistry together with the audience witnessing their friendship grow through their characters experiences of losing the men in their lives, while being forced to care for their own families. Both women's performances are the key to the story and ultimately are what makes it such a powerful experience ultimately. Other noteworthy performances are Jorge Antonio Guerrero as Cleo's lover Fermin with the audience instantly despising his character once they see his true motivations upon learning of Cleo's pregnancy. Nancy Garcia also impresses as Cleo's friend, and another of the families housemaids Adela. Marco Graf, Daniela Demesa, Diego Cortina Autrey and Carlos Peralta all do well playing their roles of the families kids Pepe, Sofi, Tono, and Paco. Much of the success of Roma can be contributed to the outstanding performances from its main cast with Aparacio and Tavira both giving the story its emotional power with their work here. The film wouldn't have turned out as powerful nor as brilliant as it does without them in their roles as they provide the film with its soul.

      In terms of directing, Cuaron once again demonstrates that he's an expert at his craft with being one of the finest directors in the business, who can capture raw human drama effectively on camera while managing to make the audience connect with the characters. Watching the film, it becomes clear to the audience that Cuaron puts his heart and soul into the story with him getting the maximum effort out of his actors, while masterfully blending both the visual element of Roma with presenting a straight-forward and consistent narrative. The decision to film the movie in black-and-white was a unique and ultimately clever decision as it takes the audience back to the time period the story takes place while leaving the main focus being on the performances. The moments of violence and graphic nudity presented are handled in a way that doesn't shy away from their usage with those moments generating the appropriate impact from the audience in regards to shock value. The use of the films violence proves to be as blatant as Cuaron's work on Children Of Men with the nudity giving one flashbacks to Yu Tu Mama Tambien. The films camera work along with the set and costume design all manage to go hand in hand together in terms of bringing the style and look of 1970's Mexico to life. The film moves at a very slow pace but Cuaron utilizes every minute of film to enhance Cleo's journey with the audience taking in the quiet moments with the characters along with feeling the impact of key emotional scenes. The film always remains first and foremost Cleo's journey and Cuaron directs it with her character being the main focus, bringing his trademark meditative and self-reflective style of filmmaking to the table. Through use of the films visual elements, he captures the beauty of 1970's Mexico even if it's full of imperfections that plagued the time such as poverty, racism, and violent protests. With Roma, Cuaron doesn't just create a film, he creates an experience that leads the audience into the story with the cinematography cementing their transformation back to a past that carries much relevance to today. It is hands down the most personal film that Cuaron has directed out of his career, but it shows how skilled he is as a filmmaker as well as his passion for revisiting his roots through Cleo's story being affectionately told on the screen. As far as his directing goes, Cuaron's second Oscar win is well warranted as his most personal film might be his greatest work in terms of utilizing his knowledge as both a visionary and emotional storyteller.

      The scriptwriting by Cuaron serves as being both strong and expertly written with the story being well-structured and not losing sight of the films main focus which is Cleo's journey. The story is told from her perspective with the family and other side characters being seen by the audience through her eyes and experience. This is a storytelling technique that Cuaron uses with many of his previous films and here it proves to be as equally effective. The film weaves together themes that feel relevant to today's society despite taking place in 1970's Mexico such as​ class distinctions, distribution of wealth, political protests, authoritarianism, and unwanted pregnancies. Many of these concepts are at the forefront of today's political climate which makes the story of Roma one that's both significant and timely. With the film, Cuaron delivers a message to the audience that says that life is full of pain and turmoil but a person who may look to be insignificant in the eyes of others can emerge as being the glue that ultimately keeps a family together with some cases having them strengthen it. The film eloquently draws the audience to that conclusion by showing the growth that Cleo has with the family she cares for while dealing with her own troubles. It is the pain and loss that both Cleo and the families mother Sofia feel, that ultimately connects their stories together along with drawing them closer as one united family. The films final scene is a pure example of such message with the ending being deeply moving and inspirational to the audience with Cleo's arc essentially being fulfilled with her finding her place in life as an extended family member of Sofia's. In terms of writing the characters, Cuaron does a phenomenal job with setting up both their main arcs along with providing little subtle details regarding the background of 1970's Mexico such as bands playing on the streets with children running to greet them, servants washing clothes, the main characters attempting to fit old classic 1960's cars in small driveways, street protests erupting into a firefight that prompts a pregnant woman to have her water break early and rushed to the hospital to unsuccessfully deliver her baby. Even visual shots such as a wealthy looking neighborhood leading into a slum does much to deliver the point that Cuaron makes regarding class distinctions. The best part about the writing of the film is nothing feels like it's rushed nor forced on the audience, but the journey that the main characters endure is one that feels like a slow and gradual progression. Cuaron's skill as both director and writer are put on full display here with largely impressive results.

       In the end, Roma is a story about a simple woman who experienced a year full of loss and pain, but also found hope, and acceptance with the family she cared for. It's a story that's not only a reflection of the past but also speaks to the times were in now (One suspects that's one of the main motivators behind Cuaron wanting to tell this story). By showing the story of Cleo as detailed and powerful as it comes across, Cuaron gives those deemed less important ( Or in this case that one family servant whom nobody stops to wonder about their life or well-being) a voice with him telling their story and making their perspective one that's understandable to others. Roma is a story about the strength of women and how one persons experience can affect another in both a positive and life-changing way. Whereas most movies are made to entertain without much thought being required after viewing them, Roma aims for the heart and make audiences think, question, and temporarily walk in the shoes of the other person. For Cuaron, this film may be the most personal he's ever gotten as a director but he brilliantly crafts a story that will essentially go down as being both emotionally absorbing and timeless. One doesn't see how he could possibly top this film nor Gravity with his current hot streak but as Cuaron has shown throughout his remarkable filmography, anything is possible.

Final Verdict: For both film lovers and Alfonso Cuaron fans, Netflix's Roma is a gem of a story as its brilliantly directed, extremely well-acted, and hard-hitting with its final scene.