Juana Inés

I was amazed when I watched this series on Netflix this week. I really didn't know what to expect and was met with an impeccable production, script and editing. Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz is a literary figure of the 17th century and an icon of Mexican Culture but, ironically enough, very little is known of her. And yes, the story-telling does take some liberties with this but to enrich the narrative build, not for shock value. At least I didn't think so. After all, a character as strong as her surely wasn't bland or dull. Her rebellion, for example, is very likely as it is known from letters written by her that she did have a quarrel with her confessor, something unthinkable at the time. Why is is so outrageous then that a figure as her, or nuns at all, had a sexual orientation of any kind? I recommend this series for it's narrative proposal which is both constructive and daring. WARNING: Not suitable for history buffs who want a narrated documentary with "reenactments for dramatic purposes". After all, it's just good TV.

The music composer is MICHAEL NYMAN Theu Forgot this information

Juana Inés is a talented young woman with only one goal in life: to study and write. Of course, it's the XVII century and knowledge in women is considered dangerous. This premise carries us through the seven episodes of the mini-series, where we see Juana Inés use her wit to challenge the most powerful men in New Spain in order to defend her right to knowledge.

The series really transports the viewer to a different era where women only had two choices: to get married or become a nun, which meant a lifetime of confinement. Also, it is the first time I've seen a portrayal of the caste system in colonial Mexico. As any good period piece, it's relevant to today as it puts gender, race and power struggles into perspective.

In some instances, it is obvious that the production didn't have a lot of money. Sometimes the fabric of the clothing really stands out as cheap, but the story, the acting and the dialogues are so powerful, that you soon forget about those details and really get invested in the characters.

Some have criticized the historical accuracy of the series, but I honestly don't think that is the scale on which to measure its worth. Very little facts are known about Juana Inés's life, the rest is speculation. This series is a proposal, an interpretation of what her life could have been like, and as such, is as valid as any other. However, I think the dialogue is interesting, because how we want to see her says more about ourselves than of her.

I truly recommend this series to anyone looking for something meaningful to watch.

This story is about a person of whom I was not aware until watching it. After viewing, I read several articles on Juana Ines de la Cruz. The details of her life and her relations with those around her are somewhat obscure. Her life seems to still inspire speculation and fabrication of events that may not have happened. However, knowing something of the Roman Church and Spanish Inquisition, and having some understanding of classical learning in the Baroque era, I believe this to be an entirely credible construct of her life, providing some good possibilities for the motivations behind her actions. Now, if you are the type of moralistic Catholic who cannot believe that there are lesbians in convents, or that certain holy monastics have the same urges as others, don't bother watching this one. It is neither like The Song of Bernadette, nor like the splendid Spanish series on the life of Teresa of Avila. The production qualities are sometimes not the best, and I have never much cared for the use of two actresses to play the same character at different ages, but the sheer drama of the story redeems it. The intense psychological aspects of the characters, and the performances of these actors merit the highest praise. The subject matter is so compelling that you cannot stop watching it, and yet it doesn't lend itself to binge watching, because you will need time to absorb what you have just seen in a single episode.

How sad that they used and abused such a good biopic and made the typical trash of lesbians, and corruption of the Church. You better get a good Biography, instead of wasting your time watching this fantasy. The guidelines for reviews here they say it's 10 lines. I really don't have much to say about this series. I have watched 4 episodes, and instead of getting better, it gets worse. It is sad they wasted so much talent, money and energy to advance the typical Hollywood immorality that they want to impose on every one as "normal". I have read Sor Juana Ines of the Cruz all my life. Biographies, and her poetry. As I said, it is a waste of time, and resources. They could have used the real, true story, and come up with something beautiful. Too bad.