Talking Pictures

Having tackled a dystopian fertility crisis (Children of Men, 2006), and deep space existentialism (Gravity, 2013) and even a Harry Potter movie, acclaimed Mexican director Alfonso Cuarón turns his masterful cinematic gaze inward for his latest, the Netflix produced Roma - a meditative and epic reimagining of the director's upbringing in 70s Mexico City, told through the lens of the family's maid Cleo (played by newcomer Yalitza Aparicio). The movie has a suitably Gabriel García Márquez esque narrative, taking a family and showing us the broad sweep of their collective story - with underlying societal and political developments merely providing the backdrop to this domestic drama. Cuarón dedicates the film to 'Libo' the real life maid of his comfortably middle class family growing up, and the director himself is portrayed as the young boy 'Paco' on screen. The sense of place in the film is stunning - no doubt in part due to the face that Cuarón insis...