(that's it, there is no complicated premise)
CW: Absolutely mundane horrible onscreen death of people including a baby that is so unglamourised and matter of fact it's more horrific than any horror movie.
The simplest of premises are sometimes the most powerful.
Alfonso Cuarón has made a window into somebody else's life that's at different points joyful and heartbreaking.
Cleo is financially and ethnically much lower status than the family she works for but there's no challenge to this and also no dreadful exploitation. The children love her and when they are under threat she risks her life for them (in a very understated way). The family too, stand by her.
The backdrop is chaotic with the threat of violence and unrest but nobody here is "a protagonist", they go to the cinema, eat meals, do laundry and talk. Having trouble parking is more of a plot point than politics.
The cinematography is amazing with long tracking shots of city life and magical light when they go for a drive to the country or the sea.
Things change, there's a breakup, a tragedy and a death but there's always more laundry.
10/10 highly recommended. If you don't cry a bit (or frankly a lot) I worry for you.