Juana Inés, is a Mexican television series co-produced by Canal Once and Bravo Films. The series is created by Patricia Arriaga Jordán, based on the life and work of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz.[1][2] The series consists of seven episodes and one season.[3] Series production began on November 4, 2015 in the Ex-Hacienda Santa Mónica, in Mexico City.[4] The series was released on 26 March 2016.[5]

Juana Inés
GenreDrama
Created byPatricia Arriaga Jordán
Written by
  • Patricia Arriaga
  • Monika Revilla
  • Javier Peñalosa
Directed by
  • Emilio Maillé
  • Patricia Arriaga
  • Julián de Tavira
Starring
Theme music composerMichael Nyman
Country of originMexico
Original languageSpanish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes7 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producerPatricia Arriaga
ProducerGabriela Valentán
CinematographyLuis Ávila
Camera setupMulti-camera
Production companyBravo Films
Original release
NetworkCanal Once
ReleaseMarch 26 (2016-03-26) –
May 7, 2016 (2016-05-07)
Related
Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz

The series stars Arcelia Ramírez as Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz and Arantza Ruiz as Young Juana Inés.[6][7]

Plot edit

The story is based on the life of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz as she travels from her uncle's home to the court of the viceroy of New Spain to a convent run by Carmelite Nuns. It shows Juana's struggles as she tries to find a safe haven in order to pursue her intellectual development as a woman with a damaging past. She faces harsh opposition from the leaders of the Catholic Church and the Spanish Inquisition who are horrified by Juana's intelligence and her desire for knowledge as a woman. The story tries to explain some of the mystery surrounding the life of Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz: her uncertain relationship with the church hierarchy, the nature of her affections, and the reason for her sudden, seemingly self-imposed silence.

Context edit

Juana Inés is one of few fiction pieces based on the life of the iconic Mexican poet - and the only TV series. María Luisa Bemberg made a movie in 1990 called I, the Worst of All based on the book "The traps of faith" by Nobel Prize Winner Octavio Paz.[8]

Cast edit

Soundtrack edit

Juana Ines's last episode's end credits list the following songs as its soundtrack:

  • String Quartet No. 1 (Michael Nyman) from "Chamber of Music Volume 2", played by the Balanescu Quartet. (Courtesy of MN Records, 2012)
  • String Quartet No. 2 (Michael Nyman) from "Chamber of Music Volume 2", played by the Balanescu Quartet. (Courtesy of MN Records, 2012)
    • Alexander Balanescu and Jonathan Carney playing the violin, Kate Musker playing the viola, and Anthony Hinningan playing the cello.
  • Trysting Fields (Michael Nyman) from "Mozart 252", played by the Michael Nyman Band (Courtesy of MN Records, 2008)
    • Conducted by Michael Nyman.
  • Gaudete Cum Maria (Eugenia Ramirez) in Suavidad Al Aire from "Cantatas y Arias Del Mexico Virreinal", played by Camerata Aguascalientes. (Courtesy of Quindecim Recordings)
  • Amplius Lava Me (Eugenia Ramirez) in Suavidad Al Aire from "Cantatas y Arias Del Mexico Virreinal", played by Camerata Aguascalientes. (Courtesy of Quindecim Recordings)
    • Directed by Horacio Franco, with Eugenia Ramirez as a soprano.
  • A La Misma Señora (Written by Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz in honor of the Countess of Galve's birthday)
    • Composed by Margarita Sanz, interpreted by Margarita Sanz and Arcelia Ramirez.

Another song has gone unlisted in the end credits. Quae Est Ista, in Suavidad Al Aire from "Cantatas y Arias Del Mexico Virreinal", is another song by Eugenia Ramirez that can clearly be heard during the triumphal arch scene in the fourth episode of the series. The reason as to why it is seemingly absent from the end credits is not known.[9]

Episodes edit

The series was acquired by Netflix, was released on January 27, 2017 in France.[10]

No.Title [11]Directed byWritten byOriginal air date
1"Miradme al menos"[11]
"At Least Look Unto Me"[12]
Patricia Arriaga-JordánPatricia Arriaga-JordánMarch 26, 2016 (2016-03-26)
Juana Inés is thrown out of her uncle's house and sent to the viceroyal court to try her luck. At the age of 16, she obtains the support of the Viceroy Marquis of Mancera, but also the obsessive love of the Vicereine Leonor Carreto. To be the tutor of the daughter of the viceroys, the young woman is subjected to a public examination before 40 of the most brilliant minds of Mexico City, ending in praise from the examiners for her lucidity and erudition. Father Antonio Núñez de Miranda, confessor of the viceroys, is shown up by Juana Inés publicly and in revenge, orders an investigation into her background.
2"Para el alma no hay encierro"[11]
"There Is No Confinement for the Soul"[12]
Patricia Arriaga-Jordán & Emilio MailléPatricia Arriaga-Jordán & Monika RevillaApril 2, 2016 (2016-04-02)
Father Núñez discovers that Juana Inés has lied by saying that she is a legitimate daughter in order to enter the court as a lady-in-waiting to the vicereine, a situation that puts her at grave risk. Juana Inés rejects a noble's wedding proposal because of her illegitimate background. After being asked for guidance by Juana Inés on the issue of her future as an illegitimate daughter, he suggests Juana Inés enter the order of the Discalced Carmelites. Juana Inés unknowingly follows Núñez's plan to reduce her to a cloistered nun, though she rebels against a life of sacrifice and blind obedience.
3"Lágrimas negras de mi pluma"[11]
"Black Tears from My Pen"[12]
Emilio MailléPatricia Arriaga-Jordán & Monika RevillaApril 9, 2016 (2016-04-09)
The viceroy is disconsolate. Juana Inés regains her health, while Núñez rebukes her departure from the convent of the Carmelites and cheats her to return. Desperate, Juana Ines asks the prioress to enter the order of San Jerónimo and Núñez convinces Pedro de la Cadena to finance the dowry for that to happen.
4"Este amoroso tormento"[11]
"This Lovely Torture"[12]
Emilio MailléJavier Peñalosa & Monika RevillaApril 16, 2016 (2016-04-16)
Juana Inés is ordered to be a nun. The regent Mariana of Austria orders the Viceroy Marquis of Mancera to return to Spain. Vicereine Leonor becomes extremely debilitated and mentally altered from the prospect of leaving Juana Inés and dies on the road to Veracruz. Tomás Antonio de la Cerda y Aragón and his wife María Luisa Manrique de Lara arrive in New Spain as the new viceroys. The newly appointed Archbishop of Mexico, Francisco de Aguiar and Seijas, wants to meet Juana Ines, who has had the audacity to write the Triumphal Arch of the Metropolitan Cathedral to welcome the new viceroys.
5"Divina Lysi"[11]
"Divine Lysi"[12]
Emilio MailléMonika RevillaApril 23, 2016 (2016-04-23)
Juana Inés and the new vicereine are left with arrows. One of the nuns at the Convent of San Jerónimo is found to have an advanced pregnancy, leading Archbishop Aguiar and Seijas to harden the measures of confinement of the nuns and he fixes his look on Juana Ines. Prior Maria suspects and obtains letters of love between them, which she hands over to Father Núñez, who threatens to make them public. Juana Inés dismisses him as his confessor. A love and secret relationship arises between Juana Ines and the vicereine.
6"Detened la mano"[11]
"Hold the Hand"[12]
Emilio MailléJavier Peñalosa & Monika RevillaApril 30, 2016 (2016-04-30)
The Vicereine María Luisa notifies Juana Inés her return to Spain, in compliance with the king's provisions, but promises to publish her texts in Europe. Father Núñez asks Juana Inés for the delivery of all his writings, considering it inappropriate for a wife of Christ to send them to the press and return her threat to make public her love letters. Some nuns of the congregation help Juana Inés to copy the works that Núñez intends to confiscate.
7"La vida con que muero"[11]
"The Life I Die"[12]
Julián de TaviraPatricia Arriaga-Jordán & Monika RevillaMay 7, 2016 (2016-05-07)
Archbishop Aguiar and Seijas orders to find out possible faults of Juana Inés as a religious. Meanwhile, Castalid flood is a success in Spain, from where Maria Luisa, Countess of Paredes, tries to defend it. The archbishop forces Juana Inés to choose between being a public figure or wife of Christ; Juana Inés opts for the latter and delivers her belongings and books for charity. She is committed not to write more and dedicate to her work as a religious. In the spring of 1695 an epidemic breaks out in Mexico City and Juana Inés insists on taking care of her dying sisters. Juana Inés falls ill and dies on the 15th of April. Several files among her belongings confirm that, in fact, she never stopped writing.

Awards and nominations edit

Year Award Category Nominated Result
2016 Pantalla de Cristal Film Festival[13] Best Series Juana Inés Won[13]
Best Director Patricia Arriaga-Jordán, Emilio Maillé & Julián de Tavira Won [13]
Best Production Values Patricia Arriaga-Jordán Won[13]
Best Photography Luis Ávila Won[13]
Best Postproduction Juana Inés Nominated[13]
Best Edition Juana Inés Won[13]
Best Screenplay Monika Revilla, Patricia Arriaga-Jordán & Javier Peñalosa Won[13]
Best Casting Luis Maya Won[13]
Best Art Marisa Pecanins Won[13]
Best Investigation Patricia Arriaga-Jordán Won[13]
Best Actress Arantza Ruiz Won[13]
Best Actor Hernán Del Riego Won[13]
Best Soundtrack Michael Nyman & Nicolas Engel Nominated[13]
Best Audio Javier Umpierrez Nominated[13]

References edit

  1. ^ "Vida de Sor Juana Inés llega a la tv". eluniversal.com.mx (in Spanish). 26 March 2016. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  2. ^ "Llevan a la tv serie inspirada en la vida de Sor Juana". jornada.unam.mx (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  3. ^ "Juana Inés, estreno de Canal Once". deseries.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  4. ^ "Inician las grabaciones de "Juana Inés", nueva serie original de Canal Once". tvnotiblog.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  5. ^ "Juana Inés (TV Mini-Series 2016– ) - IMDb". IMDb. 26 March 2016.
  6. ^ "Sor Juana, hábito de Arcelia". eluniversal.com.mx (in Spanish). 7 November 2015. Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  7. ^ "Arcelia Ramírez es la protagonista de "Juana Inés", nueva serie original de Canal Once". mastelenovelas.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 May 2016.
  8. ^ Smith, Paul Julian (2017). "Screenings". Film Quarterly. 70 (4): 83–87. doi:10.1525/fq.2017.70.4.83.
  9. ^ "Juana Inés | Netflix Official Site". www.netflix.com. Retrieved 2019-10-12.
  10. ^ "Netflix estrena 'Juana Inés', la esperada serie sobre la monja mexicana". eldiariodelamarina.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h "Juana Inés / Sitio oficial de Netflix". netflix.com (in Spanish). Netflix. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g "Juana Inés / Season 1". instantwatcher.com. Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Juana Inés (2016– ) Awards)". imdb.com. Retrieved 29 April 2017.

External links edit