Arde Madrid

Another classic product of Spain in the las 40 years: a heavy critical look of Spain to evidence how nice and good were the communists and socialist, and how nasty the rest

Very funny. Great offbeat look at life in the early 1960's Spain. Characters are well developed from the get-go.

Ava Gardner is in Madrid chasing bullfighting and drinking herself silly. This is all seen through the eyes of the servants. This is a classy series which is well acted, well scripted, original and very funny.

The show is ostensibly about Franco's Spain, and the beautiful and somewhat debauched Ava Gardner. The year is 1955, and the government suspects the Hollywood femme fatale of conspiring with the communists, so they decide to infiltrate her inner circle by way of a fabricated couple who will assume the role of cleaning woman and chauffeur respectively. The camera work is beautiful, the acting is on point, and the flamenco music is splendid. It is a pity that the script ultimately shies away from digging deeper into a real criticism of fascist Spain. An honorable mention goes to the long-suffering argentine General Perón, who makes for a pleasing riposte to Ava's antics.

Anyone who has always wanted to know what drove a Hollywood star like Ava Gardner (1922-1990) to Spain, which was ruled by Franco, of all places, will be none the wiser after watching this series, but they were thoroughly entertained.

Two servants (great: Inma Cuesta and Paco Leon) are smuggled undercover as a married couple at the diva's house because the old dictator is slowly becoming afraid that the relaxed Hollywood life could become too subversive for his conservative Spaniards. And it actually gets down to business: free love, alcohol, abortions, homosexuality (among military members!) and so much more. Gradually the lively hustle and bustle rubs off on the ossified domestic workers. And we learn: Actually, a bird of paradise like Gardner (wonderfully sophisticated: Debi Mazar) has actually done the conservative, rigid Spain a lot of good.

Wonderfully funny and wonderfully bizarre! In black and white and mercilessly to the point at 30 minutes per episode, Spain's Telefonica delivers a small masterpiece on its Movistar platform. Paco Leon not only shines as the main actor, but also wrote and directed the script. This guy is one to keep an eye on! But that also applies to the rest of the cast. The Peron couple lives below the diva. No joke! The former dictator of Argentina ended up in Madrid after Evita's death. The new girl at his side is called Isabelita and was once a nightclub dancer. A decade later, the hard-working hairpiece designer would actually become President of Argentina. You can't believe it! You just can't invent something like that!

Now let's get to Ava Gardner! The star fell in love with the country while filming "Pandora and the Flying Dutchman". The tough bullfighters probably also contributed to this. From 1953 to 1968, Gardner lived in Madrid, and a lot happened during that time. Her marriage to Frank Sinatra ended in divorce. Her close friend Ernest Hemingway committed suicide. Producer Samuel Bronston, who had a film studio built in Madrid because of the lower costs, really wanted Ava for an inconsequential film, which the diva then made: "55 Days in Beijing". And in between parties, debauchery and more parties. But somehow she grows on you, just like all the other residents of her luxury apartment in Madrid. Spain has the same mistakes as her, says Ava Gardner when asked why she ended up in Spain of all places.

Thank heavens she was there! And for this extremely entertaining series!!!