Since its publication in 1967,One Hundred Years of Solitudehas been hailed as a classic of magical realism literature and one of the best sweeping familyepics of the 20th century. Decades later, Netflix has brought the seminal novel by Gabriel García Márquez to life as a TV show with the care and attention to detail with which José Arcadio Buendía would sit at his alchemy table or Aureliano Buendía at the table making his golden fish. Though the first eight episodes only cover half of Márquez’s book, it’s clear that this was an adaptation worth waiting for.
Chronicling the life of the Buendía family for generations,One Hundred Years of Solitudeunderstands the cyclical nature of time and memory, demonstrating how we’re all destined to repeat the mistakes of our forbearers.One Hundred Years of Solitudefollows the source material closely,never shying away from the uncomfortable parts of the text. The familial themes of the novel are in line with the success of multi-generational tales in literature and television. After the success ofApple TV+’s iteration of Pachinko,One Hundred Years of Solitudeis releasing at the perfect time.
One Hundred Years Of Solitude Is Beautifully Realized Both Visually & Emotionally
Each Member Of The Buendía Is Given Their Due
Macondo, the fictional town in Colombia whereOne Hundred Years of Solitudetakes place, sets the stage for the aesthetics and style of the show.Full of color and life and intertwined with the natural world,the series is gorgeous to behold. The intricately crafted home of the Buendía family is the kind of place that anyone would want to grow up in and creates a strong physical and metaphorical heart of the story. This beauty makes it even more effective when the world’s troubles come to Macondo, forcing the characters to grapple with the people they’re becoming.
It can be difficult to navigate the transition between a younger and older actor who plays the same character,butthe series does so effectively. The biggest change is in José Arcadio and Úrsula, who are portrayed by two different actors in adulthood. However, their performances feel intimately connected and informed by the other. Úrsula — with Susana Morales and Marleyda Soto as the younger and older versions, respectively — is particularly made even more empathetic and rich through her characterization, even though Marco González and Diego Vásquez get to have the most fun as the eccentric José Arcadio.
The magical realism and fantastical elements may not appeal to everyone, butOne Hundred Years of Solitudeskillfully handles their seamless integration into the world.
Themagical realismand fantastical elements may not appeal to everyone, butOne Hundred Years of Solitudeskillfully handles their seamless integration into the world.New discoveries and the development of technologies are at the forefront of the series,as it marks the transition from a period of isolation in Colombia’s history to the influx of communication and connection with the world. Like the book, the series strikes a thoughtful balance between the good that can come of this and the inevitable struggles of people like the Buendías to adapt to this change.
Each episode is a full hour in length;it’s not the kind of story that will speed up for the sake of the audience.The pace is slow and deliberate, forcing us to experience the passage of time as closely to the reality of the characters as possible. Undertaking a TV show as layered and involved asOne Hundred Years of Solitudecan be daunting, but the length is deserved. If the series had cut corners, it wouldn’t be faithful to the book, and the show is clearly concerned with justifying itself and paying tribute to the text.
Part 2 Of One Hundred Years Of Solitude Will Be Highly Anticipated
After The Joy & Sadness Of Part 1, We Must Experience The Full-Circle Conclusion
Though there are no confirmed plans forOne Hundred Years of Solitude: Part 2’s release, there’s little question over whether the series will continue. After spending so much time with the Buendías and bearing witness to their joy and despair,leaving out the brilliant ending that Márquez crafted would be a disservice.Though it seems there has already been enough action and excitement for years worth of television, there’s still much more story to uncover. By the end of the season, it feels as though we haven’t just experienced the lives of the Buendías but the entire town.
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Perhaps the time between the first and second parts of the show will allow those unfamiliar with the book to explore the text and see how the series alters the story.One Hundred Years of Solitudeisn’t an escapist adventure to get lost in. For all its magic and otherworldly qualities, the story and Macondo can’t keep the world out forever. The terrors of history and human arrogance don’t leave the Buendías unscathed and, most often, they are the source of their woes. However, there’s a tragic beauty to watching them and seeing ourselves reflected in their mistakes.
One Hundred Years of Solitude: Part 1will be available to stream on Netflix on December 11th, 2024. Part 1 consists of eight episodes.
