Roma

Name: Roma
Genre: Drama
Released: November 21, 2018
Duration: 135 min
Rating: 96
Cast: Andy Cortés, Carlos Peralta, Daniela Demesa, Diego Cortina Autrey, Fernando Grediaga

2018

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 50 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 812 Ratings

See All

7.7

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

7.7	Your Score
7.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 812 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

Roma

Now Playing: Roma

Movie Details & Credits

Netflix | Release Date: November 21, 2018 | Not Rated

Starring: Andy Cortés, Carlos Peralta, Daniela Demesa, Diego Cortina Autrey, Fernando Grediaga, Marco Graf, Marina de Tavira, Nancy García García, Verónica García, Yalitza Aparicio

Movie Facts:

Nominated for 10 Academy Awards including Best Picture. Named best picture of 2018 by the New York Film Critics Circle, Chicago Film Critics Association, London Critics Circle, Online Film Critics Society, and the Washington, D.C. Area Film Critics Association. Winner of the Golden Lion at the 2018 Venice Film Festival. More awards and nominations

Summary: Roma follows Cleo (Yalitza Aparicio), a young domestic worker for a family in the middle-class neighborhood of Roma in Mexico City. Delivering an artful love letter to the women who raised him, Cuarón draws on his own childhood to create a vivid and emotional portrait of domestic strife and social hierarchy amidst political turmoil of theRoma follows Cleo (Yalitza Aparicio), a young domestic worker for a family in the middle-class neighborhood of Roma in Mexico City. Delivering an artful love letter to the women who raised him, Cuarón draws on his own childhood to create a vivid and emotional portrait of domestic strife and social hierarchy amidst political turmoil of the 1970s. [Netflix]… Expand

Director: Alfonso Cuarón

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 135 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Stream On

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Mike Scott

Dec 14, 2018

We get what is easily the most personal and intimate film of Cuarón's career to date. His Roma is a movie with a clear and distinct setting but one that boasts universal appeal. It's also built around a relatively small, narrowly focused story -- but one that deserves to be seen on as big a screen as possible. Read full review

100

Joe Morgenstern

Nov 21, 2018

There’s no other way to say it than to say it: Roma is one of the best movies I’ve ever seen, and one of the most moving. If Norma Desmond had been able to see it she wouldn’t have worried about the pictures getting small. Read full review

100

The Guardian Peter Bradshaw

Aug 30, 2018

At times it feels novelistic, a densely realised, intimate drama giving us access to domestic lives developing in what feels like real time. In its engagingly episodic way, it is also at times like a soap opera or telenovela. And at other times it feels resoundingly like an epic. Read full review

100

Garrett Mitchell

Dec 5, 2018

It's an affecting, visceral work that deserves eyes on it no matter if it's projected in the darkened recess of the cinema or streamed in the comfort of a living room. Read full review

Mike Ryan

Sep 8, 2018

Roma is a special movie that needs that all-encompassing experience. Alfonso Cuarón has made yet another movie that will transport you to another time and place. You will feel like you’re living it. Read full review

James Berardinelli

Dec 12, 2018

Narratively, not a lot happens during the opening 60-70 minutes, but Cuaron is marinating us so that later events have an uncommonly strong impact. Read full review

Movie Nation Roger Moore

Nov 13, 2018

Roma is arty and beautiful, but also a bit like sitting on a sofa while Cuarón flips through family photo albums, never narrating or over-explaining any single moment or image. Read full review

SEE ALL 50 REVIEWS

Write a Review

User Reviews

Alinzpark

Jun 17, 2019

“Roma”, written, directed, edited, produced, and shot by Alfonso Cuarón (Children of Men, Gravity) is a plain and simple masterpiece. Set in 1970’s Mexico, the film follows Cleo (played by first-time actress Yalitza Aparicio), a middle maid for a middle-class family. The film began streaming“Roma”, written, directed, edited, produced, and shot by Alfonso Cuarón (Children of Men, Gravity) is a plain and simple masterpiece. Set in 1970’s Mexico, the film follows Cleo (played by first-time actress Yalitza Aparicio), a middle maid for a middle-class family. The film began streaming on Netflix December 14th of this year. The story of Roma is an unusual one as it seemingly has no narrative structure. It follows Cleo as she performs her duties as the surrogate mother of the family, goes on dates and hangs out with her friends. Despite the loose structure, the story is far from listless. It possesses a hypnotic pace; slowly drawing towards an emotional climax. The seemingly meandering plot turns out to actually be a meticulous set up for not one, but a sequence of gutwrenching payoffs towards the latter part of the film. This film is one of the few in Cuarón’s filmography that isn’t shot by longtime collaborator Emmanuel Lubezki with Roma rather being shot by Cuarón himself. That being said, the influence of Lubezki is certainly felt on the style of cinematography (though similarities to the 3-time Oscar-winner is hardly a bad thing). That isn’t to say the film lacks visual character. it’s shot in stunning black-and-white with the camera moving in a hypnotic, smooth manner; rarely interrupted by cuts. The acting is as excellent as one would expect, with Yalitza Aparicio being a standout. Because of this, it is unfortunate that Cuarón rarely gives his actors the opportunity to show off their skills, as the camera is often pulled extremely far out; not allowing for much expression. There is an unspoken rule in film criticism to be sparing with the word “masterpiece”. If one overuses the term, it loses its gravity. That being said, Roma is a film worthy of the title. It is a narrative and technical marvel. It is an absolute masterpiece.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

mefirstoy

Jan 28, 2019

It is not because I am Mexican. It is not because I am a filmmaker. But this film is a work of art. It's a reminder of Fellini, Ford Coppola, Tornatore, Wiene, Murnau, Fernández, Buñuel, Chaplin, Scorsese, Scott, Del Toro, Kubrick... A reminder of the true beauty of cinema. A reminder thatIt is not because I am Mexican. It is not because I am a filmmaker. But this film is a work of art. It's a reminder of Fellini, Ford Coppola, Tornatore, Wiene, Murnau, Fernández, Buñuel, Chaplin, Scorsese, Scott, Del Toro, Kubrick... A reminder of the true beauty of cinema. A reminder that life, tragedy, pain... can look and feel so beautiful on screen, and touch your heart in a more meaningful way than life can sometimes do. This is Cuarón at his best: master filmmaker.… Expand

1 of 5 users found this helpful14

pomattovich

Nov 21, 2018

The best film I've seen this year, last year, probably the year before that, and probably next year too. The kind of masterpiece most auteur filmmakers have seemingly forgot how to make these days. Incredibly powerful and dramatic. Nostalgic without being overly sentimental. Just as stunningThe best film I've seen this year, last year, probably the year before that, and probably next year too. The kind of masterpiece most auteur filmmakers have seemingly forgot how to make these days. Incredibly powerful and dramatic. Nostalgic without being overly sentimental. Just as stunning on a technical level as Gravity was, without being nearly as showy. Simply flawless.… Expand

27 of 45 users found this helpful2718

Mahmus

Aug 22, 2019

The visuals, the acting and the direction are absolutely outstanding. This is clearly a very personal film.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Onlyclassicvg1

Sep 17, 2022

This film noir portrait of corruption and morally-compromised obsessions stars Welles as Hank Quinlan, a crooked police chief who frames a Mexican youth as part of an intricate criminal plot. Charlton Heston plays an honorable Mexican narcotics investigator who clashes with the bigotedThis film noir portrait of corruption and morally-compromised obsessions stars Welles as Hank Quinlan, a crooked police chief who frames a Mexican youth as part of an intricate criminal plot. Charlton Heston plays an honorable Mexican narcotics investigator who clashes with the bigoted Quinlan after probing into his dark past. A memorable… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Brent_Marchant

Dec 7, 2018

OK, I'll say it -- when it comes to this film, the emperor is indeed naked. I'll admit that the film's stunning black-and-white cinematography is exquisite and that the scenes introducing the picture's final act are emotionally mesmerizing (or maybe it's just that I was glad that somethingOK, I'll say it -- when it comes to this film, the emperor is indeed naked. I'll admit that the film's stunning black-and-white cinematography is exquisite and that the scenes introducing the picture's final act are emotionally mesmerizing (or maybe it's just that I was glad that something interesting was finally happening on the screen). Unfortunately, those are about the only redeeming qualities this release has to offer. The rest is a big, bloated, underdeveloped bore that tries the patience of even the most tolerant cinephile. It's obvious this was a heartfelt project for director Alfonso Cuaron, and his personal passion is written all over it. But, given that he's dealing with uninteresting characters in largely unexplained circumstances in a time frame for which little to no context or back story is provided, he's not giving the audience much to work with other than a glib implication that essentially says "This is authentic -- just trust me on this." Also, the picture's anemic attempts at incorporating philosophical and metaphysical themes show the filmmaker's got some brushing up to do in terms of effectively conveying his meaning in a comprehensible way. If you're willing to risk the time watching this, be sure to pack a pillow and a lunch.… Expand

14 of 28 users found this helpful1414

XV_

Feb 17, 2019

Aside from the photography that looks great, there are a lot of issues within this movie, the passing, the plot, is pretentious and unfocused. On the other hand, there are certain things that seem 'empowering' but they are the other way around, sure it depicts a lot of issues like racism andAside from the photography that looks great, there are a lot of issues within this movie, the passing, the plot, is pretentious and unfocused. On the other hand, there are certain things that seem 'empowering' but they are the other way around, sure it depicts a lot of issues like racism and social classes which is OK but my problem is that by the end of the movie it kind of have a racist and social message within itself, I don't think that it was intentional but is there. If you don't mind that, I hope you are prepared to lose like 2 hours of your time.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

SEE ALL 159 REVIEWS

1	#1 Best Movie of 2018
24	#24 Most Discussed Movie of 2018
61	#61 Most Shared Movie of 2018