"Cuéntame" (2001) TV series 2001-????

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Creator:

Miguel Ángel Bernardeau

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11

Release Date:

13 September 2001 (Spain)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Family | Romance

Awards:

54 wins & 70 nominations

Cast

Imanol Arias	...	Antonio Alcántara Barbadillo / ... (189 episodes, 2001-2009)
Ana Duato	...	Mercedes Fernández López / ... (189 episodes, 2001-2009)
Ricardo Gómez	...	Carlos Alcántara Fernández / ... (186 episodes, 2001-2009)
Carlos Hipólito	...	Carlos adulto / ... (186 episodes, 2001-2009)
María Galiana	...	Herminia López / ... (185 episodes, 2001-2009)
Pablo Rivero	...	Toni Alcántara Fernández / ... (185 episodes, 2001-2009)
Alicia Hermida	...	Valentina Rojas / ... (183 episodes, 2001-2009)
Roberto Cairo	...	Desi / ... (183 episodes, 2001-2009)
Tony Leblanc	...	Cervan / ... (178 episodes, 2001-2008)
José Sancho	...	Don Pablo Ramírez Sañudo (176 episodes, 2001-2008)
Lluvia Rojo	...	Pili / ... (167 episodes, 2001-2009)
Santiago Crespo	...	Josete / ... (166 episodes, 2001-2009)
Enrique San Francisco	...	Tinín / ... (158 episodes, 2001-2008)
Manuel Dios	...	Luis / ... (136 episodes, 2001-2009)
Pere Ponce	...	Eugenio / ... (134 episodes, 2001-2008)
Manolo Cal	...	Ramón / ... (130 episodes, 2001-2009)
Irene Visedo	...	Inés Alcántara Fernández / ... (127 episodes, 2001-2007)
Ana Arias	...	Paquita / ... (103 episodes, 2004-2009)
Silvia Espigado	...	Clara / ... (102 episodes, 2001-2009)
Rosario Pardo	...	Nieves / ... (89 episodes, 2001-2005)
Germán Marina	...	Abel (88 episodes, 2001-2009)

Also Known As:

Cuéntame cómo pasó (Spain) (new title)

Runtime:

60 min

Country:

Spain

Language:

Spanish | English | Swedish

Colour:

Black and White | Colour

Certification:

Spain:T

Filming Locations:

Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain

Company:

Grupo Ganga Producciones S.L.

Soundtrack:

Cuéntame

Cuéntame is a great depiction of how history is lived by ordinary people.

Cuéntame is a great depiction of how history is lived by ordinary people. You don't have to have been there to appreciate it, it informs you with a wealth of everyday detail in the sets, characters and conversations. I had seen odd episodes on previous visits to Spain and now I'm here for the year, I'm watching it religiously! And luckily now we're in the fall of 1975 at the end of Francoism and the beginning of the exciting period of the Transition (to democracy). It's fascinating to see all the aspects of society brought out in the different episodes, from the sexual revolution or pop culture to the Communist underground or the many ways people saw the coming political and social changes. Arguments in the local bar or around the dinner table are fascinating. Other aspects include the transformation of Spanish women (and recovery of the rights they lost under Franco), as we see the mother of the house go to university and confront new ideas. As an older woman who has struggled to reach a comfortable status, she is seen as bourgeoise and worse by the other students. The series is full of such revealing details, and the actors all perform very convincingly.

Sometimes Cuéntame hits a nerve, as in the latest episode shown on Nov 8th 2007 on TVE. The Alcántara brothers go to visit their father's grave and talk about how he was killed and where he was buried- a prime example of the importance of the Law of Historical Memory just passed by the Spanish government after long, grinding debate. Antonio- the marvellous Imanol Arias who gives him all his interesting tics and his honesty- once again manages to express the perfect middle ground, slippery as it may be.

I wish there were more series of this kind, and in other countries. An example to be followed!