Caray, Caray!

2024 was a remarkable year for a variety of Spanish language productions across streaming services. We saw the adaptation of Juan Rulfo's "El gallo de oro" that aired on broadcast channel Univision but produced by VIX (streaming service owned by Univision/Televisa).  That being said, that wasn't the only excellent production of stories new and old.

Here are some offerings from last year and the start of 2025 that I was impressed with and enjoyed enough to recommend.  

NETFLIX

Pedro Páramo 

This movie (about 2 hrs.) is based on the novel of the same title published in 1955 by Mexican author Juan Rulfo (El gallo de oro). It is the story of  Juan Preciado (played by Manuel García of Lincoln Lawyer fame and  a distant descendent of Juan Rulfo) who goes searching for his long lost father Pedro Páramo in a small deserted rural town cloaked in mystery, death and magical realism. 

Cien años de soledad  (One Hundred Years of Solitude)

This stunning adaptation of the 1967 landmark Colombian novel by García Márquez is a series divided into two seasons of eight episodes each.  Only the first has been shown. It was shot in Colombia with a Colombian cast.   It follows the Buendía family in their legendary town of Macondo over several generations  in a world ruled by magical realism. 

MAX

Como agua para chocolate  (Like Water for Chocolate)

This is another beautiful adaptation of the 1989 novel of the same name by Mexican author Laura Esquivel.  The first was the 1992 movie.  This  tv series is supposedly  destined for two seasons.  Season one has six episodes. It takes place during the Mexican Revolution out in the countryside where Tita's love story is thwarted by an overbearing mother. Again, magical realism reigns. There was one familiar face in the starring role of Tita: Azul Guaita. 

ROKU

Desde la raíz  (From the Root) 

This is a four part documentary (from last fall) narrated by Jaime Camil which showcases four plants (coffee, corn, mezcal and chiles) that have defined Mexican culture and history.  It is beautifully photographed and incredibly detailed including interviews with people actively involved in industries founded on those crops.    FYI  ROKU is a free streaming service. 

VIX

Más allá de ti  (Beyond You) 

If you are in the mood for something contemporary. this is a  police procedural murder mystery series with a supernatural twist. It stars Ariadne Díaz, Domenika Paleta  and Sebastián Rulli. It has eight episodes and was very entertaining. 

El extraño retorno de Diana Salazar  (The Strange Return of Diana Salazar)

This is a remake of a 1989 Mexican telenovela.  The original had 100 episodes while this series seems to have 16.  Eight have been shown so far on VIX's premium platform with the second season of eight to be dropped in mid January.  It is a supernatural drama  dealing with love across the centuries and stars Angelique Boyer and Sebastián Rulli. Univision will be making this VIX premium offering  available on Univision, as it did with "El gallo de oro",  starting Sunday 1/19/25.  

FYI VIX has a free tier where you can find many of your favorite telenovelas as well as a paid premium tier.  

Labels: MAX, Netflix, ROKU, streaming, VIX

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