42 Days of Darkness
42 Days of Darkness
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that 42 Days of Darkness is a Chilean series (available dubbed or subtitled in English) that is loosely based on the disappearance and murder of a woman in 2010. It presents lots of mature themes, some sexual innuendo-filled references, and lots of cigarette smoking. Drinking and drunken conversations are sometimes shown. There's some occasional cursing (in Spanish), but the subtitles are sometimes milder.
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What's the Story?
Inspired by true events, and based on Chilean journalist Rodrigo Fluxá's 2018 book, Notas sobre el homicidio de Vivana Haeger, 42 DAYS OF DARKNESS (a.k.a. 42 días en la oscuridad) is a true crime drama that follows a woman whose life is shattered after her sister goes missing. When Veronica (Aline Kuppenheim) disappears from her home on June 29th, 2010, her sister Cecilia (Claudia Di Girólamo) and the rest of her family are desperate to find her. The lack of police diligence and the growing media frenzy surrounding the case prompts Cecilia to begin her own search. She's helped by eager attorney Victor Pizarro (Pablo Macaya), who launches an "unofficial" investigation into the case. After Veronica's body is found in her home 42 days later by her husband Mario (Daniel Alcaíno), it unleashes a series of events that continues to tear the family apart.
Is It Any Good?
This well-produced and well-performed crime drama presents a story that is both dark and engaging. It recreates some of the terrible details surrounding what happened, but 42 Days of Darkness takes some creative license with the story (including changing people's names), and is mainly a fictional tale about the impact the events had on specific family members. It also points to cracks in the Chilean criminal justice system, and the exploitative nature of the press. It's an emotional series, and one that raises disturbing questions that may leave you feeling unsure about the ending. If you like this kind of entertainment, watching it will be worth the investment.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the popularity of true crime stories. Why are people so interested in the investigations into the demise of others? How much of an actual crime story has to be changed in a TV series or movie for it to be considered fiction?
Does 42 Days of Darkness recreate Veronica's death in a way that is sensitive to what Vivana Haeger and her family went through? Or is the series exploiting the tragedy for entertainment purposes?
TV Details
- Premiere date: May 11, 2022
- Cast: Aline Kuppenheim, Claudia Di Girólamo, Pablo Macaya, Daniel Alcaíno
- Network: Netflix
- Genre: Drama
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Last updated: May 13, 2022
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