 roma in alfonso cuaron s autobiographically inspired film set in mexico city in the early 70s we are placed within the physical and emotional terrain of a middleclass family whose center is quietly and unassumingly held by its beloved livein nanny and housekeeper yalitza aparicio the cast is uniformly magnificent but the real star of roma is the world itself fully present and vibrantly alive from sudden lifechanging events to the slightest shifts in mood and atmosphere film director alfonso cuaron featured festivals mostra internazionale d arte cinematografica new york film festival 