Roma Review: 6 Ups & 2 Downs

4. The Rich, Subtle Historical Context

With it being set in early 1970s Mexico City, it doesn't take a genius to figure out that Roma is a deeply personal, semi-autobiographical effort from Cuarón.

While the central family plot is based on the director's own experiences, he also ensures to root the drama in the appropriate historical context that he himself lived through.

In particular, the 1971 Corpus Christi massacre - a clash between protesters and a paramilitary group which led to 120 deaths - serves as a framing device for part of the movie's third act.

And yet, Cuarón admirably doesn't shove the period details in the audience's face with spoon-feeding TV reports, but instead respects viewers enough to draw their own conclusions and, if necessary, do a little background reading after the fact.

The sense of time and place is extremely palpable, with Cuarón bringing his own lived-in recollection of the period to the big screen in illuminating, powerful fashion.