There are periods in history that scar societies and moments in life that transform us as individuals.
Overview
In 1970s Mexico City, two domestic workers help a mother of four while her husband is away for an extended period of time.
Ratings
Curator score: 9.3/10
IMDb: 7.6/10
Letterboxd: 4.10/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 96%
Metacritic: 96
TMDB: 7.6/10
Director
Alfonso Cuarón
Production
Participant, Esperanto Filmoj
Cast
Yalitza Aparicio, Marina de Tavira, Diego Cortina Autrey, Carlos Peralta, Marco Graf, Daniela Demesa, Nancy García García, Verónica García, Fernando Grediaga, Jorge Antonio Guerrero, José Manuel Guerrero Mendoza, Andy Cortés, Victor Manuel Resendiz Ruiz, Zarela Lizbeth Chinolla Arellano, José Luis López Gómez, Edwin Mendoza Ramírez, Clementina Guadarrama, Enoc Leaño, Nicolás Peréz Taylor Félix, Kjartan Halvorsen
Where to watch
Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
Curator Review
Verdict
A ravishing, deeply felt domestic drama that turns everyday routines into something monumental. Its patient visual precision, emotional restraint, and devastating set pieces make it one of the most acclaimed films of its decade, though its perspective and politics can feel more debated than universally embraced.
Best for
Viewers who love immersive, slow-burn dramas
Fans of meticulous black-and-white cinematography and long takes
People drawn to intimate stories about labor, class, family, and memory
Anyone seeking a film that rewards patience and close attention
Skip if
You want a fast plot or constant dramatic escalation
You dislike observational, contemplative filmmaking
You prefer emotionally explicit storytelling over restraint
You are likely to be frustrated by films centered on domestic labor and social hierarchy
Overview
Roma is the kind of film that seems to expand the longer you sit with it. What begins as a portrait of domestic routine gradually reveals a whole social world: class, gender, family fragility, and the invisible labor that holds everything together. Cuarón’s control of image and sound is extraordinary, but the film’s power comes from how those formal choices make ordinary moments feel lived-in and fragile.
Worth noting
The film’s emotional force is cumulative rather than explosive. It lingers on chores, silences, and small gestures until they become inseparable from grief, tenderness, and endurance. When the film does open into larger spectacle, it feels earned precisely because the rest has been so carefully observed.
Bottom line
Some viewers find the perspective complicated, even distancing, and that tension is part of the conversation around the film. Still, as a piece of cinema, it is exceptionally crafted and often overwhelming in the best sense: a memory film that feels both personal and historically expansive.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Jay (4.5★) · 4545 likes
alfonso cuaron before writing roma: i guess i support mens rights
alfonso cuaron 2 pages into writing: mens rights to shut the fuck up!
Karsten (5★) · 4176 likes
It’s been awhile since a film has left me completely speechless. Like, the kind of speechless where I was so overwhelmed that it wasn’t until my walk home that I started breaking down. It’s been awhile since I got lost in a film completely and forgot about literally everything in the most beautiful way possible. It’s been awhile since I watched something special and one of a kind, something that makes me depressed to think I’ll never see it for… more It’s been awhile since a film has left me completely speechless. Like, the kind of speechless where I was so overwhelmed that it wasn’t until my walk home that I started breaking down. It’s been awhile since I got lost in a film completely and forgot about literally everything in the most beautiful way possible. It’s been awhile since I watched something special and one of a kind, something that makes me depressed to think I’ll never see it for… more
˗ˏˋ suspirliam ˊˎ˗ (5★) · 3007 likes
not to sound dramatic or anything but that beach scene changed my life
Sean Baker · 2459 likes
As I wrote on twitter: The precision in Cuarón’s craft is quite honestly overwhelming. I think I had a minor anxiety attack while watching it. And seeing the movie theater shot in a movie theater was otherworldly.
One of my faves of the year. I'll be seeing again on the big screen in Van City.
#1 gizmo fan (5★) · 1803 likes
Alfonso Cuarón didn't release this beautiful film in in theaters just so Bohemian Rhapsody could be played in the theater next to it and rudely play Queen over EVERY EMOTIONAL SCENE