User reviews

Adapting One Hundred Years of Solitude into a cinematic work appears to be an extremely difficult task for two main reasons.

First, this novel belongs to a specific literary movement, pioneered by South American writers, particularly Gabriel García Márquez, where the story is narrated through the blending of reality and fantasy. At times, this fusion is so intense that separating the two seems impossible. Naturally, translating such scenes into cinema risks making them appear absurd and failing to achieve a satisfactory cinematic form. However, watching the first episode of the series One Hundred Years of Solitude revealed that the creators managed to convey this magical and surreal feeling to the audience without making it seem ridiculous.

The second reason is the inherent complexity of the novel. One Hundred Years of Solitude is challenging to read due to its repeated use of identical names for different characters, as well as its non-linear narrative and frequent disruptions of the timeline. These elements may exhaust the reader. Fortunately, such issues are absent in the series, which has successfully transformed the non-linear narrative into a linear one, allowing it to establish a strong connection with the audience.

100 años de soledad is one of the great summits of literature in Spanish language. Its style is unparalleled and its scope is beyond imagination. Its characters are so well portrayed that any screenwriter would have no problem to write them for the screen. But the apparently unsurmountable problem to adapt the novel was its duration. To compress one hundred years of family and national history was an impossible task. After almost 60 years since its publication the novel has found a cinematographic home in Netflix. Only streaming can do it justice, and the 2 first episodes are really promising. Great photography, art direction and respect to the characters. The voice over is necessary to let the wonderful prose of García Marquez emerge from time to time. The plot evolves smoothly with richness and depth. I love it, and I was a bit skeptical that GGM's magic world could be translated to the screen. Wall, so far it's a success in my book.

I had read this novel in 2018 After finishing it, I searched for any movie or series based on this novel, and I didn't find anything, which was surprising to me.

Marquez created a whole world with great craftsmanship, great characters, and events that will be remembered forever.

As for the series, what a series!

Often when a movie or series is adapted from a novel the novel is much better, with the exception of a few works.

And this series definitely succeeded in adapting the novel correctly and bringing this great world to the small screen.

To those who are hesitant to watch this series, believe me, there is nothing more important than watching the series to spend your time.

Spellbinding. A visual marvel and a philosophical masterpiece. Pure magic. So light and easy to watch, yet so very deep. An adaptation that definitely does justice to the source material. I wish I could speak Spanish as I am sure it's way better in the original language, but it's quite mesmerizing in English. Not to mention how gorgeous the cast is. Simply amazing. It's a near perfect translation of Gabriel Garcia Marquez's Magnum Opus: Cien años de Soledad. Beautiful cinematography, enigmatic and interesting plot, insanely written characters, a love letter to Gabriel!. It made me go read the book again after decades.

I'm still on episode 4 but so far so good, actually pretty amazing , it was everything I hoped it will be . I know there will be a lot of people will not be happy of this adaptation, but in the end it's a big big novel, we all know it's just unfilmable and like you all know the author didn't agree on adapting the novel before, and now his children's agreed on adapting it, so the result in my opinion is that Netflix managed to adapt it pretty well, maybe not all perfect, but they got it very close, I think they did a remarkable work of recreating the spirit of the novel + the casts is very good , and the locations and all production was satisfying actually. Overall I recommend people to give this a shot and don't let the critics to effect you and also don't let the Netflix name effect on you.

One Hundred Years of Solitude is one of the most extraordinary and magical TV series I have ever experienced. Based on Gabriel García Márquez's masterpiece, the show perfectly captures the essence of Macondo, the mythical town at the heart of the story, and brings to life the epic tale of the Buendía family.

What makes this adaptation truly unique is its ability to blend the fantastical with the everyday, delivering moments of sheer wonder that feel both timeless and deeply human. The show's rich visual style, paired with its poetic storytelling, draws you into a world where time loops in strange ways, ghosts linger, and reality shimmers with magic.

From the haunting beauty of Remedios the Beauty's ascension to heaven to the tragic cycles of love, war, and solitude, every scene is a masterpiece. The cast is phenomenal, embodying the complexity and depth of Márquez's characters with authenticity and passion.

This series doesn't just adapt One Hundred Years of Solitude; it elevates it, turning the novel's enchanting pages into an unforgettable visual and emotional journey. It is, without a doubt, one of the best shows I've ever seen-an extraordinary celebration of magical realism and the resilience of human life.

One hundred years of isolation 🌿

Story: The series, based on the famous novel of Gabriel García Márquez of the same name, revolves around "José Arcadio Buendia" and "Ursula Iguaran", the two relatives who leave their village in search of a new home, after marrying against the wishes of their parents. Accompanied by friends and adventurers, their journey culminates To establishment of a virtuous city on the banks of a river of prehistoric stones called Macondo. Many generations of the Buendia dynasty will determine the future of this legendary city, tormented by madness, impossible love, absurd bloody war, and the fear of a terrible curse that will rule them, without hope, for a hundred years of isolation.

From the beginning of the first episode, it was clear that I was embarking on a impressive work that actually exceeded my expectations

And every episode was exciting me to see the next..

The sequence of events is amazing, tidy and calm, and its clarity on every detail and partiality, and this gave me a beautiful feeling.

Everything is perfect, the performances, sounds and the atmosphere are consistent and wonderful..

Honestly, a very wonderful series, and it didn't disappoint me, it's very enjoyable .

Pure joy watching this cinematic Colombian marvel. Screen adaptation exceeded my expectations and eliminated all fears about potential disastrous attempt to make a decent movie out of a so-cold "unfilmable" novel. Looks absolutely authentic and magical to my eyes. Bravo to Colombian creators and Colombian crew for very attentive, careful and delicate adaptation o[f one of the most beautiful novels ever written!

Cinematographic work is outstanding and displays beauty of Colombia very vividly. Costumes, colonial architecture, interior design of the buildings and carefully chosen music portrait altogether unforgettable atmosphere of Colombian magic in every and each detail.

I would definitely recommend everyone to read the book first, to try to visualize it in their head, to make a diagram of the family tree, to read about the life of the writer himself and the environment in which the work was created, so that they can enjoy the series. Of course, when we know that the writer has given the conditions under which his book can be screened, then everything takes on a deeper meaning. And really, it's convincing when you know that the action was filmed in Colombia, because that's the only way you can experience the magical realism with which it was described, not only that country, but the entire Latin American continent. Also, the series was filmed in Spanish, as Marquez requested, and it is certainly correct. Maybe some acting choices could have been different, but the acting is excellent. The plot, like the book, requires concentration, but keep your attention. I recommend it to everyone who wants to know more about the soul of a mentality and the wealth and magic of a continent.

They said turning 100 años de soledad into a movie or TV show would be impossible. We'll, it sort of is. I have only watched 2 episodes and friends tell me to keep going and that it will eventually keep up, but, you see, it has been pretty boring so far - the complete opposite of what the novel is. Maybe they are trying to stretch the series and this is why the pace is so slow, but there are another matters: the acting is really bad (particularly the Úrsula role) with no nuances. The characters talk to each other always in the same tone (I'm watching it in Spanish), with very few lines. Macondo looks like what it is: a set that looks like a theme park, too clean and ordered to be perceived as if "magical" or unexpected things could occur in it. The cinematography is pretty flat: no contrasts in the lighting and no memorable scenes. The narrator's voice is weak and unremarkable (maybe that's what they were looking for). Too much time is spent on certain things (José Arcadio's workshop) and look repetitive, as it the creators didn't know how to move on. It all looks like what a TV "novela" would look like. This is supposed to be Magical Realism, but there's no "magic" here. I don't think the series had paid any service to the book, which is a marvelous, iconic novel. They didn't have to go Hollywood, but maybe a simpler production with more emphasis on the best parts of the novel would have been a better interpretation. I just can't get the enthusiasm others have found for the series... and I really, really wanted to. I read that García Márquez said that it would take 100 days to get the story right and maybe that's what they are aiming for: 100 episodes.

I'm editing my review... finally made it to episode 4 (with great effort) and... NOW is when the series sort of takes off as if they had switched the director and the cinematographer. The acting is still hit or miss, but the lighting, the silences... and the general atmosphere settles in. I changed my rating and hope it keeps improving to change it once more.

It's an excellent adaptation. We start with an amazing Photography, good representation of the scenarios and creative direction with an approach that respects the original work. They also adapts the events of the book with dedication, and makes use of resources such as conceptual shots to add to the narrative. At the same time it respects in the ethnic and cultural aspect what Colombia is, as a people and society. Traditions, music, food and diversity of races are part of what the Macondo universe is, as well as the history that makes up the years of a violent past in Colombia. This gives way to what is its chronology, which is perfectly threaded, which results in a somewhat different product in its content, but not in a negative connotation for the development of the story. It is, in fact, a work with a lot of dedication, and pretty faithful that evokes the nostalgia of what is a hundred years of solitude and the artistic impact that it had for subsequent generations influenced by Latin American literature and the work of García Marquez.

Taking one of the greatest novels in history and turning it into a television series is an almost impossible endeavor, and this attempt is a testament to that. Despite the commendable photographic effort, García Márquez's magical realism can only truly be understood and enjoyed through the personal imagination of the reader. The adaptation and screenplay fall far short, as does the casting, resulting in a dull and overly polished depiction that barely sketches the "Macondian" universe.

The marvelous essence Gabo portrays of Caribbean lineages is reduced to sequences where the dialogues and anecdotes feel forced-almost like promotional tourism ads. The props and sets are just barely passable, and the typical, predictable panning shots lack any artistic proposal capable of surprising the audience.

In summary, it's just another streaming product destined for obscurity. Let's hope it doesn't take another hundred years for someone to dare to create and produce a version worthy of such a monumental literary work.

The last 5 minutes of the last episode is OMG. Its been 10 days since I saw this and I am still shivering and goose bumps all over my body. Simply unforgettable.

At first I thought this is some story about indigenous people wandering in the forest of Columbia. Within 5 minutes the whole story became captivating. I could not stop. I watched the whole series in one day. It shows the true nature of human beings in a very practical setting. The difference between love and lust, honesty and deceit. Power and Greed. I also understand the PTSD soldiers go through after war and coming back to society. It explained so many things in a very practical way at a human level. The last scene where the mother is praying the angels for forgivness and the son sitting on his war horse charging towards the city is unforgettable. It has been 10 days and I am still shivering thinking about that scene. No words to explain this, simply fabulous.

Before starting this show, the only familiarity with the book was that I knew it was magical realism.

From the first episode, the atmosphere this show manages to create was mesmerizing. It was really refreshing to see a show that takes worldbuilding seriously and weaves the story on solid foundations. The sets, the people feel authentic. The world "grows" with the characters and it becames a character in itself. Thus you can immerse into it, knowing even the background can be part of the story

The writing is brialliant. I don't know if it takes lines directly from the books, but regardless, you can clearly notice it was written by someone that knows its craft

The cinematography is on par with top movies out there

The sound design is really good

The actors, with a few exceptions, are also really good. So it's the directing.

You can see the passion for the craft. I've missed seeing shows of such quality and passion from Netflix.

Just finished episode one. This really could have been terrible but it's not. It's always a challenge to translate inner thoughts and fears and doubts and inner reactions to things like visions! The dubbing is pretty good in English but I switched to Spanish with English subtitles and it felt more comfortable. I'm pleased they're taking their time over the table as it's important to set the scene and even so it feels a little hurried but with sixteen episodes I'll live with it. I've read the book three times in my life and it's ok. No expense has been spared with the locations and the sets and that does help create the atmosphere. Looking forward to the questionable ethnics stuff! No censorship please!

I had my doubts and as a Colombian I didn't like Netflix at all after making only narcos series, but it definitely won my heart by making this series about one of the best books written by the Colombian Nobel Prize in Literature. A masterpiece brought to life! Netflix's One Hundred Years of Solitude stays wonderfully faithful to the novel, capturing its magical yet realistic essence. The performances are stellar, and the production design immerses you fully in the story and its time. A true homage to García Márquez's work-simply breathtaking.

Conclusion: They delivered. Absolutely recommended to see if you liked the book.

I have read the book in English decades ago and enjoyed it tremendously. I can't think of any other book that has been translated to all live languages in world and gain international popularity like this one. It made Marquez a larger that life literally giant that put Colombia on the map of the literary world. Many fans of the book expressed their concerns when Netflix announced they are making the book into series. Hundred Years of Solitude has such place in people's hearts that any mis-representation of it would have been considered a huge betrayal to Marquez and the special place of this book in the world of literature. Now getting back to the series please watch it in original langue of Spanish. I don't speak Spanish but it is way more interesting to watch it in the real voices. Don't be afraid of the subtitles, you get use to it. Definitely the real voices of the actors and narrator is different authentically than voice actors.

This isn't a magical history; its the iconic magical realism itself. In Macondo, everything can happened, like in Colombia its worldwide capital; a land where everything is possible, even the unimaginable misfortunes and unrealistics events that born in an unexpected details. Gabriel García Márquez is the most representative Colombia writers who describes with an adorable fantasy and flashes of spice inocense, a fascinating story about his remembrances, full of fears but with a genuine conviction of a better future for his descendants.

Ursula Iguaran represents for her husband, José Arcadio all his foundations.

One Hundred Years of Solitude is a family chronicle of the Buendía family written by Gabriel García Márquez, which follows the adventures of the family members over several generations. The events take place in Colombia at the turn of the last century in a fictional village called Macondo, which the patriarch of the Buendía family José Arcadio and his wife Úrsula establishes in the middle of the jungle.

I have read One Hundred Years of Solitude halfway through when I was a teenager. The book's reputation as one of the best books in the world and also as the winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature (1982) attracted me to the book. The story had a lot of magical realism in which supernatural events are presented as part of ordinary everyday life and to which the characters often react calmly. However, the descriptions of sexual encounters, of which one in particular stood out above the others, were the most vivid. José Arcadio and Úrsula's children were predicted to have a pig's tail as a developmental disorder at birth, because they were cousins. Despite this, they married and despite their fears, their first child, who would be named after his father, José Arcadio, would not be born with a pig's tail but with a "monstrous" genitalia. In one description, which I unfortunately could not find a quote for despite my efforts, José Arcadio describes how, as a result of sexual intercourse, José Arcadio almost splits a woman open like a coconut. As I recall, Márquez wrote this description very lushly and without sparing words.

Netflix has now produced a series based on the book in Colombia, which was made with the blessing and guidance of Márquez's family. The series is beautifully shot and the filming locations well chosen. The actors are convincing and the music in particular is really good and atmospheric. However, the further the series progresses, the clearer it becomes that One Hundred Years of Solitude is essentially the ancestor of Spanish soap operas. The story could in principle continue indefinitely. There is always the next generation whose adventures can be followed when the previous generation dies or otherwise loses interest. The story does not have a dramatic arc with a beginning, middle and end. One Hundred Years of Solitude consists of several small stories that have been stitched together into a large fabric. The narrative technique itself is not bad, but I myself was frustrated by its structural fragmentation and endlessness. A similar narrative is used by several other South American authors and, among other authors I know, at least the American John Irving.

The political side of the story focused on following the power struggle between conservatives and liberals, which is based on the political climate in Colombia and the historical Thousand Days War from 1899 to 1903. In One Hundred Years of Solitude, the political quarrel crystallizes around the right of people to freely choose the color of their houses - that is the biggest problem in Márquez's world. Freedom of religion, freedom of speech or women's rights do not bother One Hundred Years of Solitude. At one point, the founder of the village of Macondo, José Arcadio, says that he built the village without a church because he wanted to establish a secular community. I was excited - this is a modern story! At the latest, by the time the leaders of the conservatives and liberals met by the sea for peace talks, my enthusiasm for the interesting and diverse world had evaporated. They defined their biggest disagreement as the fact that one goes to church at five and the other at eight!

The worldview that One Hundred Years of Solitude offers is very similar to the worldview of the National Socialists during World War II. The differences between the representatives of the two groups are nothing more than that one represents the color red and the other blue - and the colors have no political or social background in this context. The blue and the red go to church at different times to worship the same god. There are no landowners and workers - no communists or fascists. Everyone represents the same group in essence. All differences are apparent and in reality the groups are only created to create the illusion of freedom of choice. All people are the same - and they have no reason to differ from the masses. The biggest choice they make in their lives is what color they paint their house. Now someone might think that this monotony and lack of perspective is just a carefully considered metaphor by Márquez. If it is a metaphor, then a metaphor for what?

The Netflix series made me realize that Márquez's book is like a fairy tale for adults - or an endless soap opera. It's for everyone. It doesn't hurt anyone's feelings or give rise to deeper thought. The series was as politically neutral as possible. When you try to bow to every direction, you end up showing your behind to all of them. Not taking a stand is cowardly and courting the audience. On the other hand, people need easy, mindless entertainment to escape the sometimes harsh reality. In that sense, One Hundred Years of Solitude is a great product - but in every other sense, it's not.

The most ridiculous dialogue in the series was when the conservative commissar discussed with Úrsula about her son, the liberal rebel leader, the great and brave José Arcadio.

Commissar: "He is my enemy (José Arcadio)." "My closest enemy." "But we are united by a common enemy." "Injustice." Frick!! This sounds like a new Marvel movie!

Special mention to the great Diego Vásquez, who played the adult José Arcadio Buendía. He resembled Jack Black in appearance. This amusing observation helped to get over the darkest mud holes of the story.

The One Hundred Years of Solitude series on Netflix is a brilliant adaptation that honors the spirit of the novel while offering a breathtaking and engaging viewing experience. Fans of the book will be captivated, and newcomers will find themselves drawn into its mesmerizing world. It's a rare example of a literary adaptation done with exceptional care and artistry.

The cast delivers strong performances, bringing the vibrant, multi-generational Buendía family to life with nuance and depth. The pacing, though sometimes slow, mirrors the cyclical nature of time in the novel, giving the series a dreamlike quality. The music and cinematography further elevate the experience, adding layers of richness to the already captivating plot.

It was an amazing series. One of the most realistic, magnificent, and impactful productions I've seen in recent times. I had read the book, and seeing such an incredible production stay true to the original story is truly a privilege for those of us lucky enough to experience it! The performances of the actors were truly applause-worthy. The fact that such a masterpiece has reached us all the way from South America is extraordinary. What we witnessed was entirely human. It captured everything about humanity-ambition, anger, love, hatred, friendship, curiosity, freedom-everything you could imagine was there. Bravo to everyone involved... From the director to the cast to the crew, heartfelt thanks to all of you!

Absolutely wonderful! They managed to capture the magic from the book; everything flows like enchanted water in a river. I'm so happy that all the faces are authentic, and we don't see overused Hollywood actors who are impossible to look at anymore. The MUSIC is stunning. I hope Netflix will benefit from this and start producing more such local, authentic gems.

The acting is phenomenal-each character feels alive and true to their roots, adding depth to the story. The magic on screen is mesmerizing, with breathtaking visuals that transport you straight into the heart of the novel. This is a worthy adaptation of One Hundred Years of Solitude, preserving its soul and enchanting essence. A masterpiece!

The funny thing is that I don't remember the book like that at all. Sure it was eerie, but then again, the author is very poetic about bringing out old curses and such..or tragic love, human nature.. It all comes from a Master of the genre.

I was swept away by just about eveything, not in the first episode, I was intrigued then, and I hope you let the alchemy/ magic happen like I did. Let a mendicant cloak enrobe you in its fantastic story. It all comes back to history and memory and how unreliable and entangled they are and what we make of them.

I got the urge to read the novel again, right now ! Like some "Game of Thrones" fever. The difference is, I can't read the original, only a translation.

It's no Dickens and Christmas tale for children, but it is a tale for adults. A sad one, but beautiful. And most welcome in our troubled political times.