Watch Roma in quarantine

The argument

This slice-of-life drama follows Cleo, an indigenous housekeeper who works for an affluent family in Mexico City. Caring for the house-and the family’s four young children-Cleo and Adela, another maid, live simply but comfortably. It is not until the father of the family runs off with his mistress that tensions begin to rise, threatening to tear apart the formerly-happy family. To complicate matters further, Cleo realizes she is pregnant, and her then-boyfriend abandons her to raise the child on her own. Seamlessly blending comedy and tragedy, this intimate drama examines the complexities that exist within every family. Though the situations presented in the film are not universal, the themes of love, sacrifice, and heartbreak that run throughout it are. Even the cinematography reflects these undercurrents. Set against the rich cultural backdrop of Mexico City, but shot in black-and-white, the visual aesthetic of the movie mirrors the joy and sadness that exist, often simultaneously, in families around the world. During quarantine, this film may give you a new outlook on your own family-a much-needed perspective shift when you've been spending so much extra time with them.

Context

Though it was released under two years ago, Roma is already considered a modern classic, thanks to its stunning cinematography and storytelling. Directed by acclaimed film producer Alfonso Cuarón, the movie, considered a cinematic masterpiece by critics, was released on Netflix on October 27, 2019.

Premises

Counter-arguments

Sure, this film has been applauded by critics but when it comes to the average watcher, it doesn’t live up to the hype. It prioritizes its artsy cinematography over its actual plot, making for long, drawn-out shots that struggle to hold up the rambling storyline. Though the visual aesthetics of a movie may make it interesting to watch for a while, they certainly don’t fill up this film’s two hour and fifteen-minute runtime. For the audience, watching it struggle to do so is a frustratingly boring experience.

Rejecting the premises

[Rejecting P1] A fresh perspective on family is one thing viewers might want in quarantine, and not obviously the most common. Distraction, comfort and lightness are at least as widely sought, and the premise simply stipulates the need its conclusion requires. [Rejecting P2] Universal themes are not the same as an engaging film. The objection to Roma is about pacing and plot — that its long, composed shots outrun a thin storyline over two and a quarter hours — and the premise never addresses that. [Rejecting C] 'Best thing to watch' is a superlative the premises cannot reach. At most they establish that Roma is worth watching, which leaves every other title on the service untouched.