This is a good time to be a fan of Latin American literature. The classics we grew up reading, like “One Hundred Years of Solitude,” “Pedro Páramo,” and “Like Water for Chocolate” are reaching new generations and breaking language barriers, all through television.
© NetflixThese adaptations on Netflix and Max are completely different, yet all proudly Latin American productions. While they are broadcasting to international streamers, they are based on the works of Latin American authors and act as a hub for Latin American talent, hiring actors, writers, directors, producers and more.
They present a different type of Latin American to an international audience.
“It really offers this kind of alternative story from what audiences are used to,” said Ana Cristina Ramon, director of the University of California’s Entertainment and Media Research Initiative. NBC News.
© Warner Bros
“Like Water for Chocolate” was a huge success at Max, which led to its renewal for a second season. The adaptation, which was based on the novel written by Laura Esquivel, was made by Salma Hayek, who described it as one of her passion projects.
He shared the personal story of his connection with the story, revealing that the original film was released in the 90s when he had just moved to the US and was having trouble booking jobs.
“And all of a sudden this is a film that’s practically the first Spanish-language film based on a Latin American novel to have crossover success in the United States. It seems like nothing … but you don’t know what it means to me,” she said Harper’s Bazaar.
© NetflixNew type of Latin American adaptation
Book adaptations are nothing new. They are currently one of Hollywood’s obsessions, which is why there have been so many movies and TV shows based on the books and comic books over the past two decades.
“I love seeing the domino effect where these works of literature are being turned into shows,” Cruz Castillo, who works for the National Hispanic Media Coalition, told NBC News.
When discussing “One Hundred Years of Solitude,” Netflix had a difficult task finding the right people to adapt a story that is considered by many to be one of the greatest masterpieces of all time, regardless of its language. Streamer was tasked with making sure his Latin American roots remained intact.
“Adapting a masterpiece is a huge challenge,” said Francisco Ramos, Netflix’s vice president of Latin American content. Reuters. “We had no doubt the huge talent in Latin America – in this case mostly from Colombia – would do the job. They just needed the support and the opportunity.”
You can watch all of these projects on Netflix and Max, with the first half of “One Hundred Years of Solitude” premiering today, December 11.
© Netflix