When it comes to contemporary cinema, there are names that need no introduction, and Alfonso Cuarón is undoubtedly one of them. Born in Mexico City on November 28, 1961, this director, screenwriter, and producer has achieved something that few filmmakers achieve: creating his own recognizable and universal style. His work has not only transcended borders, but has also elevated Latin talent to the most important stages of the film industry.
The first steps of a born storyteller
It all began when, at the age of 12, he received his first camera as a gift. What for many would have been a hobby, for Cuarón became the beginning of a career that would revolutionize the seventh art. Although he studied philosophy at UNAM, his true passion led him to CUEC, where he met two great lifelong collaborators: director Carlos Marcovich and cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki. Together they shaped his first short film, Vengeance is Mine, and with it began a journey that already promised greatness.
From Mexico to the world
Cuarón did not have an easy start. Before shining in Hollywood, he worked as a janitor and assistant director on Mexican productions. His first big break came with Only with Your Partner (1991), a romantic comedy that attracted attention outside Mexico. That film opened the door to Hollywood, where Cuarón found a space to experiment and demonstrate his talent.
There he directed A Little Princess (1995), a sensitive adaptation that put him on the international radar. Then came projects such as Grandes esperanzas (1998) and, of course, his unforgettable contribution to the Harry Potter saga with and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004), considered by many fans to be the darkest, most daring, and visually powerful installment of the series.
The Cuarón stamp
What sets Cuarón apart is not only his ability to tell stories, but how he chooses to tell them. His films are loaded with details, long takes, and an obsession with visual immersion. Whether it’s the futuristic chaos of Children of Men (2006) or the space odyssey of Gravity (2013), each of his works reflects a constant search for innovation. His cinema does not seek to please, but to provoke: sometimes it makes you uncomfortable, sometimes it amazes you, but it never leaves you indifferent.
Pride in one’s own: Y tu mamá también and Roma
Although Cuarón conquered Hollywood, he never stopped looking back to his roots. Y tu mamá también (2001) was a watershed moment not only in his career, but also in Mexican cinema. The film, starring Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna, combined the freshness of a road trip with an honest portrayal of the country’s social and political inequality. It was a box office and critical success, establishing Cuarón as a storyteller capable of addressing both the intimate and the universal.
Years later, with Roma (2018), Cuarón returned to 1970s Mexico City, to the neighborhood where he grew up. Filmed in black and white and in Spanish peppered with Mixtec, the film was a tribute to domestic workers and the daily life of a middle-class family. Roma was not only acclaimed at film festivals such as Venice, where it won the Golden Lion, but also became a landmark film for Netflix and Spanish-language cinema by winning three Oscars, including Best Director.
Awards and legacy
Alfonso Cuarón has accumulated a showcase of awards that include two Oscars for Best Director (Gravity and Roma), Golden Globes, BAFTAs, and recognition at the most prestigious festivals. But beyond the awards, his true legacy is having paved the way for other Latino filmmakers and demonstrating that our stories can have a global impact.
Furthermore, he has not limited himself to directing. As a producer, he has promoted projects by other creators, such as Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth and Rudo y cursi by Carlos Cuarón, his brother. More recently, he continues to invest in new formats with projects for platforms such as Apple TV+ and Netflix.
A creator in constant evolution
Far from stagnating, Cuarón continues to explore. In 2024, he released the miniseries Disclaimer on Apple TV+ and served as executive producer on the Korean thriller Revelations for Netflix. He also presented innovative projects such as An Almost Christmas Story, reaffirming that his artistic curiosity knows no boundaries or genres.
Alfonso Cuarón, Latino Excellence
If anything defines Alfonso Cuarón, it is his creative courage. He has gone from filming intimate stories in Mexico to shooting in outer space, always with the same goal: to make us feel. Each of his films is an invitation to look at life from another perspective, to reflect and to marvel.
Today we celebrate his talent, his vision, and the pride he represents for the Latino community. Alfonso Cuarón is not only a successful director; he is a symbol of excellence, innovation, and persistence. And, of course, a reminder that stories told from the depths of our roots can conquer the entire world.