Mexican-American identity

His films blend Mexican cultural mythology and folklore with contemporary themes, exploring identity and belonging across borders in works like 'Pan's Labyrinth' and 'The Shape of Water'.

He examines class, culture, and personal identity through deeply humanistic narratives, with 'Roma' offering a profound meditation on Mexican society and family bonds.

While exploring broader American identity, her intimate documentary-style approach in 'Nomadland' and 'The Rider' captures marginalized communities and the Mexican-American experience in the contemporary West.