Roma

Director, cinematographer, editor, producer, and writer Alfonso Cuaron's Roma is a return to cinematic greatness. It tells the day to day story of a young maid's (Yalitza Martínez) plight in 1970's Mexico, working for a well to do family. Though Martinez gives a wonderful performance, it is the cinematography of Cuaron that is the real standout here. His choice in black and white, the wide screen panning of entire scenes that take on the entirety of each scene, and the level of detail in the highlighted stillness is magnificent. These techniques serve to move the story along in such a different way that evokes the enormity of the main characters plight, forcing the viewer pay attention and process the character's plight in a more naturalistic way. In this sense, Roma is a technical and artistic masterpiece.