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| Personajes de telenovela |
TELENOVELAS & OTHER SHOWS
Contents: |
The Telenovela | Choosing a Telenovela | Favourite Telenovelas | Movies in Spanish |
THE TELENOVELA
Telenovelas are very popular in Hispanic countries, and in the countries that produce them their economic and cultural importance is similar to that of the movie and tv industry in the U.S. The true telenovela, like the American soap opera, runs daily from Monday to Friday. However, unlike soap operas, they usually run in prime time and families often gather in the evening to watch them together. Also, like an actual ¨novel¨, they have a defined story arc and ending, usually running for less than a year (having from 100-200 ¨chapters¨). Many have a didactic purpose to a greater or lesser degree as well, educating people on health or social issues, etc.
However, there are also series more like American and Canadian tv shows, which are divided into seasons of 15-20 episodes each; if the show is popular, there may be two or three seasons. Some of these are carried currently on Netflix.
The traditional telenovela focusses on a fated romance between a couple whose families are from different social classes; the characters are often absurdly extreme, and the obligatory complications in the story (which serve to delay the required happy ending) may be ludicrous. However, others are more modern, more realistic, and may have elements that lend interest to the story, such as an unsolved crime, humour, etc.. In fact there may be little difference between the modern telenovela and current shows on tv or Netflix which also have some combination of drama, humour, interesting characters and developing relationships between characters.
I find telenovelas (good ones) excellent for learning about the language and culture of different countries (as with English, there are considerable differences among countries), and they are a great way to practise and learn more Spanish!
CHOOSING A TELENOVELA
There are thousands of telenovelas; the trick is to find a good one and then to find a reliable site to watch it. For intermediate-level Spanish learners, it will be impossible to understand much of a novela that is entirely in Spanish; therefore the easiest thing for students at this level would be to watch any of the shows carried on Netflix, as you can set them to see Spanish subtitles. (I would not advise watching them with English subtitles, as you really won´t learn any Spanish that way!) There is a section below of shows on Netflix. The ones on Netflix are mostly structured like American series, i.e. they have seasons with a small number of chapters in each; in the ones which have a clear romance arc, the first season is likely to end at the usual end of the narrative arc (the lovers get together); however if the show is popular they may keep adding seasons. (In other cases, romance is not a significant aspect.)
For higher-level students, there are a lot more options. When I want to find a good novela, I use a combination of the following strategies: 1) Go to an online site that carries ¨telenovelas online¨, and try out some that look interesting until I find one I like. 2) Look online for recommendations by people with similar tastes. 3) Look for actors that I have liked in other shows. Sometimes I will look for a novela from a specific country, in order to practise and maintain currency in the different forms of the Spanish language, as well as current culture in different countries.
If I know a title, I search for online sites that carry it (google the title and ¨capitulo 1 online¨ ) . It may take some time to find a reliable site; sometimes you have to switch sites at different points. Some sites are plagued with pop-up advertising, porn, gambling, etc. and some may try to get you to install a virus by telling you that you already have one. So you need to be sure to block pop-ups, and don´t fall for any scams. (I find that Chrome is much better than Firefox for avoiding these problems.) I cannot recommend any specific sites, since they are always changing (due to copyright issues).
I always watch a few chapters of a novela before deciding if I will continue watching. (Due to the number of chapters, choosing one is a significant commitment; I want to be sure I will like it!) You will likely have to watch a few chapters to get used to the particular accent and can understand what is being said; even then there are often characters who speak in such an ¨idiomatic¨ way that they are always hard to understand, but this is actually what makes them funny and enjoyable! What I look for in a novela is realistic characters and situations, good acting and production, and something more to the story than romance. I particularly like humour, an explicit focus on language and wordplay used by different characters, and the opportunity to see cultural aspects of the region. Once I start watching, I usually watch one chapter a day; thus it takes a few months to finish a show. It is rare that I would stop watching a novela before it is over; even though at times the requirements of the genre may be annoying, as long as I still like the characters and language I will continue. (However, I have quitting watching a few when there were no characters I liked, or the leading man treated the leading lady so badly that I did not want them to end up together.) Comprehension of the specific accents and idioms improves over time, and at some point, I find that I am using the slang and imitating the characters´ way of speaking.
I would advise students wishing to maintain their Spanish to watch at least two or three chapters of a novela per week, if not one a day. (Chapters are usually one hour when on tv, which of course includes ads, and a recap at the beginning of what happened in the previous chapter; however, when watched online, all that is cut out, so most chapters are about 40-42 minutes long.) It can be useful to do exercises such as repeating conversations in order to better understand and learn new words and phrases. This is what makes the internet such a great language resource!
FAVORITE TELENOVELAS
Following are some of my favourite telenovelas and shows, based on my tastes as described above (some are better than others, but all are worth watching in my opinion):
AVAILABLE ON NETFLIX (in alphabetical order):
☼ CLUB DE CUERVOS - Mexico. 3 seasons so far, on Netflix. You will learn a lot of Mexican slang if you watch this! The plot involves a soccer team, and the usual novela romance story arc is quite absent. The main characters (a brother and sister) are flawed, both funny and maddening. Don´t be put off by the sex and drugs scene in the first chapter; that is not what all of it is like! Highly recommended, especially if you are a soccer fan!
☼ COSTA COCAINA (COCAINE COAST) - España. One season on Netflix (13 chapters). Set in Galicia, España, and based on the history of drug trafficking in Spain during the 80s and 90s. The focus is on the traffickers and a police agent who is after them. I am not big on the narco shows in general, but this had little violence, and good cultural and linguistic aspects.
☼ EL BARCO - España. Two seasons (?) on Netflix. Set on a ship, and involving the destruction of most of the world, its plot is unconventional, to say the least. For that reason I will recommend it, and I also liked the leads; however it is somewhat incoherent at times, (though no more so than many novelas). The romantic arc is not too obvious. I found the ending disappointing.
☼ EL MINISTERIO DEL TIEMPO - España. Three seasons (39 chapters) on Netflix. Highly recommended. The premise is interesting: the possibility of travelling to different points in the past, and the existence of a government ministry to ensure that nothing happens to change history, with frequent trips into different eras when things need to be ¨fixed¨. Great cultural references to important historical events, artists, etc. Likable characters and interesting concepts; good balance of drama with some humour, and some romance, but not too much.
☼ EL VATO - EE.UU./México. On Netflix, ongoing, so far 2 seasons (26 chapters). The plot involves a Mexican singer (¨El Vato¨) and his friends who go to Los Angeles to try to make it in the music industry (Mexican regional music). It shows issues related to this music genre, such as its relationship to narcotraffickers, etc. Some good characters. A bit more violence than I like.
☼ GRAN HOTEL - España. Two or three seasons, on Netflix. A historical novela, set in the early 20th century. The plot involves a mystery set in a hotel, which I liked (not having the whole focus on the romantic aspect).
☼ JANE THE VIRGEN - U.S. Three seasons, on Netflix. This is the only novel I recommend which is mostly in English. The original (¨Juana, la virgen¨) was from Venezuela, and though I watched it (for the language), I found it quite awful. However, the U.S. version is great, very different. Only the original premise is the same (a young woman being artificially inseminated by mistake). It is done in a very tongue-in-cheek way, the creepy aspects of the original are gone, and it still has a lot of Spanish, due to the characters and situations. (The abuela almost always speaks in Spanish, and there are also scenes of novelas in Spanish within it). Deals with some important issues, such as undocumented imigrants. Some great characters; very very well done in all aspects.
☼ JUANA INÉS - Mexico. One season on Netflix. This is based on the life of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz, the famous Mexican writer, nun, and early feminist. While aspects are no doubt fictionalized, as is common in these cases, it is still an interesting introduction to her life and importance, both literary and historical.
☼ LA CASA DE LAS FLORES (HOUSE OF FLOWERS) - Mexico. So far (2018), has one season (13 chapters) on Netflix, but it looks like it may continue. Focus on a large family, their various secrets and antics. Light-hearted and fun. The chapters are only 1/2 hour in length.
☼ LA ESCLAVA BLANCA - Colombia. On Netflix, about 65 chapters. A historical novela, set during the 19th century in Gran Colombia. The focus is on the colonies established by the Spanish, which relied on slavery; while the romantic aspect is there, the lives of the slaves, and also of women at that time, are really more important. This is what raises it above the level of many novelas, and while some of the scenes were hard to take (abuse of the slaves), it is important not to sugar-coat the reality, and this did not overwhelm the enjoyable aspects of the characters and story.
☼ LA NIÑA - Colombia. On Netflix, 86 chapters. This is excellent; there are many different and great characters, and a very important theme. The plot involves the long period of civil war in Colombia, which has only recently ended; the focus is on a young girl who was forced into the ranks of the guerrilleros, and the life she tries to build for herself after she leaves. It deals with issues that all Colombians are having to face now (similar to other countries which have been through a civil war, and have to find a path to reconciliation afterwards).
☼ LA CASA DE PAPEL (MONEY HEIST) - España. On Netflix, 2 seasons. This is about a robbery in a mint; the idea is to break in, take hostages, and stay long enough to print huge sums of money to steal. The mastermind is brillant and has planned the heist for years; he chooses and trains a team over months. In particular he is an interesting character. There are times when it is annoying how stupid the robbers are, despite how carefully they were supposedly chosen and trained. As a thriller, it is quite exciting and surprising, and I would recommend watching all of it, because it really got better getting into the second season, and the ending was satisfying.
☼ LAS CHICAS DEL CABLE (CABLE GIRLS) - España. On Netflix, 2 seasons (?). This is excellent, focussing on the lives of girls and women working at a time when private telephones were being developed.
☼ TIEMPOS DE GUERRA (MOROCCO: LOVE IN TIMES OF WAR) - España. On Netflix, 1 season (13 chapters). Set in 1921 in northern Africa, when Spanish soldiers were fighting against a rebellion. The main characters are Spanish nurses who go to set up a hospital; situations based on the war as well as romance.
☼ VELVET - España. Four seasons (50-60 chapters) on Netflix. Set in a high-end dress shop in the 50´s . I really enjoyed it, particularly because of several of the minor characters, who were quite funny. (They seemed to be more developed in the second season.) When it ended, they made another season called ¨Velvet Colección¨, based on the same situation and most of the same characters. I would say that the first couple of seasons of Velvet were the best.
LOOK ONLINE, in aphabetical order:
☼ DESTILANDO AMOR - México, 2007? An interesting aspect of this novela is that it is set in Jalisco, the tequila-making region of Mexico. The countryside is beautiful, and you will learn absolutely everything there is to know about this industry! The leading man has some unusual characteristics; there are other interesting characters, none being too extreme. I am told that the novela is based on a Colombian novela ¨Café, aroma de mujer¨, which I have not seen. Mexican remakes of other country´s novelas are common, and usually not as good, but I did find this one good, and have not yet found the Colombian one online in a good enough quality to watch it.
☼ FLOR SALVAJE - U.S. (Venezuelan lead). Much grittier than I usually watch. The plot involves two sisters trying to make their way in life after their brother is murdered by the police and their mother kills herself. It has some very surprising turns, and unlike in most novels, the ending could not be anticipated.
☼ GAVILANES - España - This is an excellent novela. Like many of the Spanish novelas, it had fewer chapters--I think it had two seasons with perhaps 13 chapters in each. It avoided most of the reallly annoying novela traits. Unfortunately it is hard to find. (Do not be misled by a novela titled ¨Pasión de Gavilanes¨, which is much easier to find. While it is the original version, on which the Spanish version is based, the Spanish version is far superior. )
☼ HASTA QUE LA PLATA NOS SEPARE - Colombia. The story is set in an auto dealership, where she is a manager, and where he is forced to work as a salesman in order to pay back a large sum of money that he owes her (despite his having no experience in the field). Interesting aspects of this novela: there is less emphasis on class differences, and the leading characters are not stereotypical. Both have money problems; both are simultaneously likeable and maddening. There are times where they can both be annoying, but overall I was on their side.
☼ LA FUERZA DEL DESTINO - Mexico. It has stereotypical elements, but doesn´t develop in a predictable way. The characters are not too extreme; there are some sympathetic minor characters, and there are unexpected twists (without being bizarre).
☼ LA HIJA DEL MARIACHI - Colombia, 2006. This is my favourite telenovela. There are a variety of interesting characters, some quite amusing. The situations and characters are not too absurd (except for the purpose of comic effect). Language and culture aspects are interesting (Colombia and Mexico). Mariachi music plays a large role and you will soon love it and be singing along. The plot involves a rich young Mexican business owner who is betrayed by his friends/associates, and is forced to flee to Bogota, Colombia, where he learns what it is like to live in poverty, as well as what true friendship and love are. You can watch it on a Facebook channel (click on the title for the link) which has excellent quality and no problems at all.
☼ PADRE CORAJE - Argentina. A historical novela. This one went on too long for my taste, and in extending the story, it became too bizarre and incoherent. However, the fact that it included some aspects of Argentine history, such as Perón and peronism, made it interesting; also, of course the Argentine dialect is distinctive and one can learn a lot about the lexicon and accent by watching this.
☼ PALABRA DE MUJER - Mexico. While the romance arc is certainly present, I liked this one for its focus on the friendships among a group of women who start a business together, and the various problems they face. The women are the key characters.
☼ QUÉ POBRES TAN RICOS - Mexico. This is now my second favourite! mostly due to the character played by Jaime Camil, but also to the transformation theme (similar to La hija del mariachi), ie. the rich people come to take on the language and perspective of the poor. It also develops the theme of a minor character who is gay in a much better way than I have seen in other novelas. Unfortunately, I have so far been unable to find the last three chapters! Of course, I know how it must end, but would still like to see them...
☼ LOS RICOS TAMBIÉN LLORAN
☼ TE DOY LA VIDA - Chile. This program is unusual, because the show is a half hour, rather than one hour. The premise is interesting, rather different (a mother looks for the biological father of her adopted son after the son develops a life-threatening illness), though it does have the usual telenovela characteristics.
☼ VICTORIA - Mexico. This novela had a very unusual premise: It started with an older couple with three young adult children, on the verge of divorce, and continued with a focus on the woman. Presented some interesting themes, such as date rape and eating disorders, as well as the main topic of a woman developing a life without having to only identify herself through a man and children. Of course, there was a romance arc, and again, it was unusual due to the leading man being younger than the woman, the only time I have seen that in a novela.
☼ YO SOY BETY LA FEA - Colombia. This one is well-known; many Canadians know the American remake (¨Ugly Betty¨) which was on tv a few years ago. It is set in a fashion business, where he is an owner and she is an empoyee. Besides the class difference, the twist is the difference in ¨attractiveness¨ of the leading pair. The premise is that he is good-looking, while she is not. Personally I found aspects of it quite disagreeable, including this premise. I did not want them to end up together, because I found him to be a jerk. Nevertheless, many of the supporting characters were enjoyable, there were some good comic actors, and for that reason I recommend it.
MOVIES IN SPANISH
These are a few of the movies which have been made in a variety of Spanish-speaking countries, and/or which deal with important cultural/historical topics:
☼ ABRE TUS OJOS
☼ ÁTAME - a Pedro Almodóvar film.
☼ BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB -a documentary film about the rediscovery of some wonderful Cuban musicians and their deserved return to the limelight.
☼ EL NORTE - This film is in English, Spanish and some Guatemalan indigenous languages. The plot involves a brother and sister who leave Guatemala during a time of intense repression, aiming for ¨the North¨ , i.e. U.S., where they suppose that everything will be wonderful.
☼ FRIDA - a film about the important Mexican artist, Frida Kahlo
☼ LA HISTORIA OFICIAL - Argentina. The plot involves a woman coming to terms with the fact that the daughter she and her husband adopted was the stolen child of a young woman killed by the military during the dirty war.
☼ LA NOCHE DE LOS LÁPICES - Argentina. Based on events during the ¨guerra sucia¨ (dirty war) in the country.
☼ MATADOR - a Pedro Almodóvar film.
☼ MISSING (DESAPARECIDO) - Mostly in English.
☼ ROMERO - This film is titled for Monseñor Óscar Romero, who was murdered by a salvadorean paramilitary group. It shows his gradual awareness of the repression in El Salvador, and his resulting transition from a person who ¨stayed out of politics¨ to a person who used his position to speak up for the poor. Mostly in English.
☼ TACONES - a Pedro Almodóvar film.
☼ TANGO BAR
☼ TANGO LESSON
☼ TODO SOBRE MI MADRE - a Pedro Almodóvar film.