Despite the challenges of limited access to streaming platforms like Netflix in Cuba, the first two episodes of the 16-episode series will be presented at the Havana Film Festival.
The novel, first published in 1967, tells the epic story of the Buendía family and the town of Macondo, blending magical realism with a vivid portrayal of Latin American culture and history.
Director Alex García López, who co-directed Part 1 with Laura Mora, shared with Reuters how reading the novel in his youth left a profound impact on him. He recalled how it resonated not only as a family saga but as a story about a country, a continent, and the human experience itself. For García López, the novel’s central question revolves around whether humanity can break free from the cycle of repeating mistakes across generations, or if we are doomed to our destiny.
“The book is incredibly human,” he told Reuters, drawing parallels between the themes of García Márquez’s work and the growing political polarization seen in the United States and Europe today. “It captured those same dynamics back in 1967, and it’s just as relevant today.”
Márquez and films
One Hundred Years of Solitude is regarded as a masterpiece of magical realism and is one of the defining works of the Latin American Boom literary movement, which brought the region’s literature to global prominence. The novel chronicles the lives of the Buendía family across seven generations, using fantastical elements to explore deeply human themes of love, power, fate, and memory.
The adaptation, which features lush landscapes from Colombia’s Caribbean coast and period-appropriate 19th-century costumes, has already generated excitement through its promotional videos.
García Márquez, who passed away in 2014, had long been reluctant to allow his novel to be adapted for Hollywood-style productions, but Netflix’s approach persuaded his family. The streaming giant committed to producing the series entirely in Colombia and in Spanish, making it a unique, faithful adaptation.
Francisco Ramos, Netflix’s Vice President of Latin American content, explained that the agreement with García Márquez’s sons was “very straightforward.” The author’s sons are credited as executive producers on the show. Ramos emphasised that adapting a literary masterpiece was a significant challenge, but he was confident in the immense talent within Latin America, particularly in Colombia.
“Adapting a masterpiece is a huge challenge…We never had any doubt the enormous talent from Latin America – in this case mostly from Colombia – would be up to the task. They just needed the support and opportunity,” he told Reuters.
Netflix’s loyalty to Latin American
The series is part of Netflix’s broader strategy to invest in and promote Latin American content. In addition to One Hundred Years of Solitude, Netflix has recently released a film adaptation of Juan Rulfo’s Pedro Páramo and is working on future adaptations of works by Mexican authors Jorge Ibargüengoitia and Ángeles Mastretta, as well as Colombian writer Laura Restrepo.
While Netflix is well-known for its popular crime dramas set in Latin America, such as Narcos and Griselda, García López pointed out that this adaptation of One Hundred Years of Solitude is part of a broader effort to show a different side of Latin America — one that is rich in culture, history, and human complexity.
“We almost always export these stories of drug traffickers, illegal immigration, poverty, and dictatorships,” García López said. “We want to show the world that we are more than what they know us for.”
With One Hundred Years of Solitude, Netflix hopes to share a more nuanced, deeply human portrait of Latin America, offering viewers a glimpse into the magical and political worlds of García Márquez’s masterpiece. The series promises to captivate audiences not just with its story, but with its bold, authentic portrayal of the region’s identity.
