Latino Excellence at the Oscars: Roma
It’s award season and that means that it’s time to watch all those movies you never got around to seeing or never heard of. January 6th marked the 76th Annual Golden Globes ceremony where we saw films like A Star is Born dominate the show. For movies like A Star is Born, this was to be expected as it was one of the most talked about films of the year. Other films, like Alfonso Cuaron’s Roma, ended up being sleeper hits, but no less valuable competitors. At the Globes, Roma walked away with two wins and several nominations, asserting its place among the ranks of favorites. With the Oscar nominations just being released, it should come as no surprise that Roma once again establishes itself a force to be reckoned with.
The film was written and directed by Latino filmmaker, Alfonso Cuaron. It was co-produced in both Mexico and the United States, being shot entirely in Spanish and Mixtec with English subtitles offered. Starring Yalitza Aparicio and Marina de Tavira, the movie follows the life of a live-in housekeeper in the city of Colonia Roma.
What’s interesting about Roma isn’t just that it’s filmed in two languages, but that it’s a semi-autobiographical take on Cuaron’s childhood. The film’s status at the awards is also intriguing as it’s neither shot in English nor in color, making it a unique choice for several categories. Winning Best Foreign Film at the Globes was a shoo-in for Roma and it’s likely to win the same award at the Oscars this year. Its nominations for Best Director, Production Design, Cinematography, and the coveted Best Picture Award make it an especially intriguing pick as foreign films rarely get this treatment.
Roma’s ability to break boundaries like this speaks volumes to Cuaron’s ability as a filmmaker and storyteller, proving his status as both a unique talent in the industry and a visionary. In addition to Cuaron himself, Marina de Tavira is nominated for Best Actress in a Supporting Role and Yalitza Aparicio has been nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Overall, the film is tied with The Favourite for the most nominations this Oscar season, bringing its total to ten.
As it stands, Roma has a good choice of winning many of these awards, but whether it wins Best Picture or just Best Foreign Film, there’s no arguing that the film has certainly broken many barriers. It looks like it’s the movie to beat and we couldn’t be happier.
You can watch Roma on Netflix and the Oscars will take place on February 24th at 8:00 pm EST.
Did you love the movie? Let us know in the comments below!
