El cuerpo en llamas

I had no preconceived notions going in. Just looking for a murder mystery. I am a huge fan of true crime drama, and also procedural forensics. Yeah, if you are in search of a cinematic "tour de France" (joke turn of phrase that my late husband always used, instead on "tour de force"), this isn't it.

This way exceeded my expectations. I am not a native Spanish speaker, but I know enough to decipher the lyrics of the periodic background songs -- so the soundtrack is excellent, and is a sort of character in the story. To know this is a true story is telling within the framework of the series. This is a series that should be binge watched.

If you know the details of the story, it's just not very entertaining. Perhaps because I just watched the documentary series, that this dramatic retelling feels redundant. With nothing especially gripping about either the story telling, the acting, or the level of suspense, I got bored with it quickly. It seemed to drag on and on. They could have done this in a 90 minute movie.

This is an interesting case, and the documentary series is very good, I highly recommend it. I probably would have liked this dramatic series more if I hadn't known the details of the case going into it. Instead, I wanted it to be over after about 3 episodes, just to get to the end.

Now streaming on Netflix (released on 8th September 2023), this limited series, primarily in Spanish, delves into a harrowing tale inspired by true events. I opted for the English-dubbed version, providing a more familiar auditory experience.

At the heart of the story lies the brutal murder of a police officer, burned beyond recognition. Suspicion quickly narrows down to two other agents intricately connected to the deceased: his girlfriend and her secret lover. What unfolds is an intricate web of relationships, motives, and dark secrets, further emphasized by the real-life recordings featured in "Rosa Peral's Tapes", which Netflix has made available concurrently.

Úrsula Corberó, whom many might recognize as Tokyo from the hit series "Money Heist" (2017-21), takes center stage, portraying Rosa Peral. Her performance is stellar; she excels in capturing the essence of a character battling internal tumult. Her controlled demeanor and ability to convey raw emotion without overt theatrics only amplify the suspense. Admittedly, it was her reputation from "Money Heist" that drew me to "Burning Body" in the first place.

Though the pacing is deliberate, every scene drips with tension. Every character is masterfully fleshed out, carrying layers of depth and mystery. The meticulously crafted storyline, paired with a contemplative ending, solidifies "Burning Body" as a gem within the 'Dark Crime Thriller' genre. The fact that this tale mirrors real-life events only adds to its allure.

Despite its merits, I did find the series occasionally languid, docking a star for the same. However, for those with a penchant for gripping narratives and real-life mysteries, "Burning Body" is an absolute must-watch.

I didn't know that this was based a real case before I started to watch it. Approached as pure drama it is a magnificent piece of work. Very well written - the twists and turns of the story unfold gradually as the viewer is taken through the facts and fictions of the case, and perceptions of the characters change as their actual actions are revealed. The acting is very good too. The two leads - both sultry, hot and erotic - add some sexual charge to the drama, which underlies the entire case: Two people who find it difficult to keep their hands off each other. How close this is to the actual case, I do not know. But as drama it worked very well indeed.

This show is based on the true story of Rosa Peral, a member of the Barcelona police department, which was sentenced of 25 years in prison after the burnt body of her lover was found inside of his car.

The show compile a lot of the original facts from the case but also uses the drama to add a lot of what was the scandal back then when the case burst in social media. They used this show to reconstruct, of course with a lot of modification of some facts, how the inspectors came up with a story, a plan, to get her and her other lover (Albert Lopez) arrested for the crime.

I believe the show is worth to watch, very well produced, the music, the actors represente a superb role, specially Ursula Corberó who interpreted Rosa, and overall, makes you think and feel the intention of the show.