Roma is a location within Mexico City. Our story shows the day-to-day life of a family, most importantly focusing on Cleo (Yalitza Aparicio), the middle-class family’s work within the home.

Roma, directed by Alfonso Cuaron, best known for his work on films such as Gravity and Children of Men, both films I highly value. Roma is a film showing in Australian cinemas and still is as I write this review. To my surprise, Roma was also announced to arrive on Netflix one week after its Australian release in cinemas. Based on many reviews, I had to see this film upon its release on Netflix. I would prefer to see it in the cinema, but my life during this holiday season prevented me from seeing this on the big screen.

For those who are not aware, Roma is shot entirely in B&W and features subtitles throughout the film’s duration. This film has been inspired by the director’s childhood and how he was brought up.

Roma is powerful, beautiful, disturbing; a work of art, and most importantly, Roma is unforgettable.

The director uses a very creative way to show off each scene. With stunning visuals and the support of Dolby Vision, Roma is a film on many real locations that puts you right in the heart of Mexico. The director has also delivered many smooth, slow-panning shots which feel like fresh air, allowing you to breath in this city and its atmosphere. Roma shows you everything to the point where I felt confident I knew exactly what the layout of the family home was. Roma is a loaded with critical minor details which I recommend viewers stay focused for throughout the film’s duration. I recommend if you are going to watch this at home to try not to pause or walk away from the film. Instead, try to complete the movie during the one sitting. This is a rare case where this film desires and asks for your attention. In my opinion, considering the work that has gone into it, the film also deserves your attention.

Roma delivers one of the greatest (perhaps the best) audio tracks I have ever heard in my home theatre system from Netflix. The detail of even the most smallest things such drips of water or a plane flying past in the sky is merely phenomenal for movie lovers.

Overall, Roma is an outstanding film. It’s powerful, disturbing, and most importantly, it’s unforgettable. Roma deserves your time as it’s a film, unlike anything I have seen in a long time. I expect we will hear more about Roma during the 2019 Oscars. It is also surprising that this film is now available on Netflix as well as selected cinemas within Australia.

9.6/10

Thank you for visiting! Walkden Entertainment is also available on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/walkdenentertainment/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/walkdenentertainment/

Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/Peter_Walkden/

Review Written by Peter Walkden