Roma

Watching Roma a second time after having seen much of Cuaron’s other work, researching some historical context, and simply basking in this gorgeous film is an experience like no other. Just the way you’re able to focus on the stunning cinematography and backgrounds sends Roma to the next level. What pushes it beyond is all the themes and stories it tells. We see countless parallels between Cleo and the family she works for, the ways Cleo interacts with the world around her and vice versa as a Mixtec woman and the ideas of patriarchy surrounding ‘70s Mexico. The historical events taking place are masterfully built up in the background of almost every scene, leading to a great climax in which we circle back to several earlier events. Even beyond this, seeing references and inspirations from Cuaron throughout was simply a joy, and seeing his signature style unfold was fantastic now that I have the proper context to understand it. Cuaron is quickly becoming one of my favorite directors and auteurs of all time.