Gabriel García Márquez's most celebrated novel, One Hundred Years of Solitude, is finally getting its first direct adaptation in an upcoming Netflix project.
The novel has been translated into 40+ languages and has sold over 50 million copies.
Cousins José Arcadio Buendía (Marco González) and Úrsula Iguarán (Susana Morales) marry against their parents wishes and build the town of Macondo, which is plagued by a 100-year curse. The novel also includes elements of magic realism.
The show will be launched in two parts, comprising 8 episodes each. One Hundred Years of Solitude Part 1 drops on Netflix on December 11, 2024.
More about the show's magical filming locations in our story.
One Hundred Years of Solitude filming locations
Staying true to the author's source material, the shooting for this upcoming Netflix show took place entirely in Colombia, Gabriel García Márquez's native country. Marquez's family helped with the production throughout the process.
1) Tolima
The fictional town of Macondo was built near Tolima, Alvarado. Since the novel spans many years, the production team built four different versions of the town to show the passing of time.
The team also purchased local furniture from local antique stores, and local artisans created art pieces for One Hundred Years of Solitude sets.
Consisting of Ibagué, also known as 'the musical capital of Colombia,' Tolima is known for its richness in music and arts. It is not surprising that it was the primary location of a show set so deep in Colombian traditions.
2) La Guajira
La Guajira is next on the list of One Hundred Years of Solitude filming locations. It is the northwest region of the Guajira Peninsula. Vast stretches of desert were also used; this was another location where the show was shot.
Some montages used aerial shots. A few exterior shots of the city of Macondo were also filmed here. About 1100 workers helped build the set for this town.
La Guajira's rugged and mystical environment makes it an ideal location for capturing the magical realism central to One Hundred Years of Solitude.
3) Magdalena
This show is one of the most extensive and culturally inclusive works, painting a vivid picture of Colombia.
According to Francisco ‘Paco’ Ramos, Netflix’s VP of Content for Latin America, they had been planning on adapting Marquez's 'unfilmable' novel since before the pandemic, and this gave them a chance to use Magdalena as an important city to shoot in.
“You’re going to see something that is completely different...It has its own little world, its own little tempo, its own little dynamics, and a little internal grammar.''
Magdalena holds cultural significance because of the Magdalena River, and hence it was chosen as one of the locations for the show. The production team's dedication to capturing the essence of Colombia through its landscapes truly shines through in their decision to film in Magdalena.
4) Cesar
Cesar is another department of Colombia located in the north of the region. It has great political significance in Colombia, which is frequently the central theme of Marquez's writing.
Cesar boasts a host of Colombian sites, and the production chose this as one of the filming locations to stay faithful to Marquez's works. The rich descriptions in the novel fit perfectly with the topography of this location.
Reportedly, the show is one of Netflix's most expensive Latin American projects. Eugenio Caballero (Pan's Labyrinth) and Barbara Enríquez designed the sets.
The setting for this novel is the most crucial part, and the team wanted to get that right. Therefore, they created an elaborate, beautiful set highlighting the country's culture.
Is there a trailer for One Hundred Years of Solitude?
Netflix has released an official trailer for the show, which gives us the first glimpse of the magical setting of the novel. The building of the town of Macondo, which saw generations of the Buendía family.
The trailer shows a culturally accurate description of Colombia as seen through Marquez's lens. The series drops on Netflix on December 11, 2024.
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