Roma (2018)
Film · Drama
Stream itif you appreciate a slow-burning, visually exquisite portrait of domestic life and quiet resilience.
A visually stunning and deeply personal masterpiece that demands patience for its slow, deliberate pacing and black-and-white aesthetic. It offers a raw and intimate look at domestic life and social hierarchy that is profoundly moving without being manipulative.
What it is about
In 1970s Mexico City, two domestic workers help a mother of four while her husband is away for an extended period of time.
Trailer
What Roma is like, and who it is for
What it is like to watch
Watching this is an exercise in immersion, characterised by long, sweeping takes and a meticulous attention to sound and texture. The black-and-white cinematography lends a timeless, photographic quality to scenes of everyday domesticity, which are captured with a wide-angle lens that makes every corner of the screen feel alive. It moves at a meditative pace, prioritising atmosphere and the rhythms of life over conventional plot beats, occasionally erupting into moments of startling, visceral intensity.
Who it is for, and who should skip it
It is essential viewing for those who love neorealist cinema and patient storytelling, but it will likely frustrate viewers seeking a fast-moving narrative or dramatic dialogue. The film demands your undivided attention to appreciate its subtleties; the caveat is that its deliberate slowness can occasionally feel punishing if you are not in the right headspace for observation. Those interested in social hierarchy and the invisible labour of women will find it particularly rewarding.
The right evening for it
This is a film for a quiet, distraction-free evening when you are prepared to be fully absorbed. It pairs best with a dark room and a sense of curiosity about a world different from your own.
Written by our AI from the facts on this page. It has opinions; it has not watched it.
Teaser
Teaser · Teaser
How Roma leaves you
One line on the mood it ends on, with no plot. Some people count that as a spoiler, so it stays hidden until you ask.
You are left with a heavy sense of empathy and a lingering appreciation for the dignity found in quiet endurance. It feels profoundly intimate, like having glimpsed a vivid, private memory.
How Roma ends
Spoilers. The whole ending, in a few lines. Nothing shows until you ask and then confirm.
Sofía takes Cleo and the children to a beach in Tuxpan, where she reveals that she and Antonio are separating. During the trip, Cleo wades into a strong current to rescue Sofi and Paco from drowning, despite her inability to swim. On the shore, the family members embrace and affirm their love for Cleo, who tearfully confesses that she did not want her baby to be born.
The film ends with the group returning to their Mexico City home to find that Antonio has removed his belongings and the house has been reorganised. As the family begins a new chapter without the father, Cleo returns to her domestic routine by preparing a load of clothes for washing. This conclusion solidifies the new family dynamic, leaving the characters united by their shared survival and mutual affection.
Summarised by our AI from the plot section of the Wikipedia article, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. This summary is shared under the same licence.
Stills
Images from TMDB.
If you like this, try
Shoplifters (2018)
the same focus on unconventional family structures and the struggles of the working class
Pather Panchali (1955)
a similarly poetic and grounded exploration of poverty and domestic resilience
Cold War (2018)
another visually striking, black-and-white period piece reflecting broader social shifts through a personal lens
Suggested by our AI for what they share with this one. Linked titles have a page here; the rest are worth a search on the browse page.
More clips
Featurette · Alfonso Cuarón Talks About Roma on the Red Carpet
Featurette · MyROMA Q&A with Writer/Director Alfonso Cuarón
Featurette · #MyROMA: A message from Alfonso Cuarón
Awards
Roma won Best International Feature Film, Best Director and Best Cinematography at the Oscars. It also won at the BAFTAs and Venice. It was nominated at the Golden Globes.
Oscars
- Won: Best International Feature Film · 2019
- Won: Best Director · Alfonso Cuarón · 2019
- Won: Best Cinematography · 2019
- Nominated: Best Picture · 2019
- Nominated: Best Actress · 2019
- Nominated: Best Supporting Actress · Marina de Tavira · 2019
- Nominated: Best Original Screenplay · Alfonso Cuarón · 2019
- Nominated: Best Production Design · 2019
- Nominated: Best Sound · 2019
- Nominated: Best Sound Editing · 2019
Golden Globes
- Nominated: Best Non-English Language Film
- Nominated: Best Director
- Nominated: Best Screenplay
BAFTAs
- Won: Best Film · 2018, 2019
- Won: Best Film Not in the English Language · 2018
- Won: Best Direction · Alfonso Cuarón · 2019
- Won: Best Cinematography · 2019
Venice Film Festival
- Won: Golden Lion · 2018
11 other awards and nominationsShow
- Won: Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Film · 2018
- Won: New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Film · 2018
- Won: San Francisco Film Critics Circle Award for Best Film · 2018
- Won: BIFA for Best Foreign Independent Film · 2018
- Won: Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Director · 2018
- Won: Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Director · Alfonso Cuarón · 2018
- Won: Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Cinematography · 2018
- Won: APRECI Award for Best International Premiere · 2018
- Won: National Board of Review: Top Ten Films · 2018
- Nominated: Producers Guild of America Award for Best Theatrical Motion Picture · 2018
- Nominated: International Submission to the Academy Awards · 2019
From Wikidata, which can miss some.
Questions people ask
- Is Roma an authentic film?
- Yes. On Watchlist Boosted it is tagged Authentic, with a tearjerker streak. A visually stunning and deeply personal masterpiece that demands patience for its slow, deliberate pacing and black-and-white aesthetic. It offers a raw and intimate look at domestic life and social hierarchy that is profoundly moving without being manipulative.
- How long is Roma?
- Roma runs 135 min and was released in 2018.
- Where can I watch Roma in the UK?
- In the UK, Roma is included with Netflix (all plans).
- What awards did Roma win?
- Roma won Best International Feature Film, Best Director and Best Cinematography at the Oscars. It also won at the BAFTAs and Venice. It was nominated at the Golden Globes.
- Is Roma worth watching?
- Stream it: if you appreciate a slow-burning, visually exquisite portrait of domestic life and quiet resilience. IMDb users rate it 7.6 out of 10 from 176,987 votes, Rotten Tomatoes gives it 96%, Metacritic 96 and TMDB users 7.6.
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