Brian Mok

They say cinema is a slice of life. Every frame of Alfonso Cuarón's ROMA breathes with it. It is a film so atmospheric and so emotional that it elevates everyday life into an epic cinematic experience. ROMA took my breath away and left me speechless even hours after watching the film. This is Cuarón at the top of his game, and quite frankly, when has he not been? The combination of his direction and the actors' performances, specifically that of Yalitza Aparicio (Cleo), were superb. The sound design was masterly crafted. It's amazing that in addition to producing, directing, writing, and editing this film, Cuarón was also his own cinematographer, forgoing his usual collaboration with Emmanuel Lubezki. Many films have one perfect shot, or sometimes even a bit more. It's very rare to see a film where literally every aspect of the camera was perfectly and methodically shot that every frame belongs in a National Geographic magazine. Shot on an Alexa 65 and finished in stunning monochrome, this is a film that begs to be seen on the big screen. Netflix really doesn't give it the justice it deserves. Ultimately, ROMA is the product of a master artist at work, a film about mood and feeling, and it transported me to Cuarón's memory of a neighborhood in 1970s Roma, Mexico City.