Alborada

This is an excellent period novel. The actors are well convincing in their roles and there is plenty of action. Includes realistic sword fights and scenes filmed on location instead of in a studio. If you enjoy reading historical romance; you will just love this. Fernando Colunga does an outstanding performance. Daniela Roma shines as the villain in this. Besides the main story, there are several minor subplots between supporting actors which are also very intriguing. Watching the four male lead actors reminded me a lot of "The Four Musketeers". The background musical score was quite appropriate and enhanced with singing by Placido Domingo. Expected to be released in the near future on DVD (with English subtitles )by Televisa. I enjoyed it tremendously and wish they would do a sequel. American soap operas don't even come close to this. Highly recommended!

Alborada brings to you a story of love, commitment, responsibility, integrity and honesty, all of which suddenly have a new meaning and may actually go against the accepted social and religious standards of the time. Everything is, after all, relative. Being deeply Mexican in the subtleties of the cultural blends between the catholic, Jewish, Indian and black (Caribbean) cultures and beliefs, the novel develops in a particularly interesting historical moment when Spain has already accepted a new (and more modern) Constitution, while the Colonies are still under the old (now obsolete) laws, particularly those regarding the rights and responsibilities of women in society. This Telenovela has not a single episode of waste, it will keep you on the edge of your seat wishing, hoping, and dreaming about what could possibly happen next. But no matter what your dreams are, the next episodes will bring surprisingly even more complex situations that make the plot and the characters increasingly more interesting. You will question your own thoughts about what is right and what is wrong, In addition to an excellent plot, Alborada could not have been as successful without its excellent acting cast and carefully planned scenography, direction, photography and, last but not least, a great music score sang by Placido Domingo.

After watching Ramona and loving it, I decided to watch Alborada. I'm glad I did. Everything was spectacular. The costumes and scenery transported you back to the time, the acting was phenomenal and the script was amazing; full of little details to add more humanity and realism to the story. Lucero (Maria Hipolita) shone in her role, and Fernando Colunga couldn't be a better Luis. I really enjoyed watching the minor touches done by the other actors: Diego's laugh or Marina's wide-eyed innocence toward everything that happens around them. All the characters were perfectly drawn out, given depth with people the hate, love, befriend, and care about. All the characters had a good AND dark side, making them real. Everything from the villains to the romances were beautifully done. A perfect 10/10.

Alborada is a great non conventional love story produced by Carla Estrada that centers around the accidental and dramatic love story between Hipolitha (lucero) and Luis (Fernando Colunga) Both actors are at the top of their craft, giving chemistry that sizzles with emotion, strength of character, and desire. The novela is rich in characters that provide a kaleidoscope of the human spirit themes: love, frustration, deception, social hierarchies, region, and strangely emphasized, mortality. Doña Juana Arellano (Daniela romo) exudes the elegance and the antagonist tyranny of the aristocracy giving a driving force to the story.

Hi, Believe or not, Alborada was not only a soap-era but much more. It was a tool for teaching. Yes, all the social issues recreated by this story provided my students with the visual side of their assigned readings (Spanish Lit. / Colonial) The debates after each week's episodes were enlightening...as were the scenes where women were presented as citizens of 2nd. class...where false pride, hypocrisy, arrogance, abuse to common people and crime were recreated....Even the end, which attempted to show that everybody was equal, was engulfed in falsehood to protect the family's name. Now, my opinion about Luis R. Guzmán' work: His character "El Conde De Guevara" could be a very difficult one...for a much less talented actor. No for Mr. Guzmán. "Adalgisa"..well, she won everybody's heart and applause. "Isabel"...this character got deeper and deeper in our hearts with each "Caray, Caray". A side of Alborada that impressed me the most -and also some of my students- was the way the church was presented. No attempt was made to soften the cruelty of the Santo Oficio and of the Inquisition. A second side that impressed me as much as the first, was the way the aristocrats felt about themselves: Above the law...ready to order the murder of a person at the flip of a coin