13/11/2024 - With Carmen Machi, under the direction of Elena Trapé, Diego San José proves that humour is not incompatible with profession, and much less so with reggaeton

Presented in the Velodrome at the last San Sebastian International Film Festival and due for release on Spain's Movistar Plus+ on 14 November, Celeste [+see also:
trailer
series profile] is a series that, stealthily and silently - unlike other much more hysterical ones this season - achieves something as magical as conquering the heart, the understanding and the smile of its viewer with each new episode. We are talking about just six 30-minute episodes. This is enough for us to fall to our knees before the talent of series creator Diego San José (whose name is behind not only blockbusters like Spanish Affair [+see also:
trailer
film profile], but also series like Vote for Juan, Vamos Juan and Venga Juan [+see also:
trailer
series profile]), the direction by Elena Trapé (currently talked about for I, addict [+see also:
series review
trailer
series profile], also premièred in Donosti) and Carmen Machi's incarnation of the main character, outdoing her great recent work in the recent Piggy [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Carlota Pereda
film profile], The Volunteer [+see also:
film review
film profile], or even La Mesías [+see also:
series review
trailer
series profile].

It is not easy to seduce the viewer when you are Sara Santano, such a grey, miserable women with hardly any friends... and to make matters worse, the very incarnation of the recurring nightmare for most for Spanish people: a tax office inspector, the same one who if she knocks at your door, you won't be able to escape through any window.

The title character had to be a Latin pop star (played by Mexican artist Andrea Bayardo and based on the real-life case of Colombian singer Shakira and her problems with the Spanish treasury) who falls under scrutiny because for the past year she hasn't paid her taxes in this country that loves her so much. So, the earnest, willowy and unsympathetic heroine of this series will have to prove that the celebrity has been living in this country for at least half the year plus one day... and get her to pay the 20 million euros due on her gigantic income from multitudinous concerts, ever-present advertising and the sale of her range of cosmetics.

Good old Sara, who is on the verge of retirement, rises from the ashes, spurred on by this impossible task and fearlessly takes on her enemy with the determination of an ox, fuelled by years of experience scavenging through other people's finances. During the investigation, where she teams up with a paparazzo (played cunningly by a dedicated Manolo Solo), she may - or may not (better watch the series) - that Celeste has lived here long enough to pay taxes like anyone else, and discovers not only hidden aspects of the reggaeton diva but - in parallel with her own anodyne life as a sad, dark and withdrawn widow - new ways of leading her life from now on.

With spectacular dialogues (the script is written by San José, Daniel Castro and Oriol Puig), recognisable yet hilarious situations and brilliant cast-focused directing, this series harmoniously combines comedy and thriller also shows how neither fame nor money are a guarantee for happiness, that even the most glamorous builds up her own consumer-based character and that you are never too old to change not only your hairstyle but also your attitude.

Celeste is an original Movistar Plus+ series, co-produced with 100 Balas (The Mediapro Studio). International sales are handled by The Mediapro Studio Distribution.

(Translated from Spanish by Alexandra Stephens)