The Unbroken Voice
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The Unbroken Voice
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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 The Unbroken Voice is a Colombian biopic (available subtitled in English) based on the life of singer Arelys Henao. It features lots of violence, ranging from ruthless politically motivated actions to brutal domestic violence, including stalking and sexual assaults. Guns and shootings are frequent, too, but blood is limited. There's strong sexual innuendo (no nudity), and pregnancy is a theme. Cursing (in Spanish) is audible but not translated in English subtitles. Drinking and smoking (cigarettes and cigars) is frequent. All this being said, family, overcoming obstacles, perseverance, and working hard toward a dream are also key themes. The series has a robust soundtrack that is available for purchase.
Community Reviews
Colombia love ❤️
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What's the Story?
The Unbroken Voice (aka Arelys Henao: Canto para no llorar) is a drama inspired by the life of Colombian singer Arelys Henao. Luz Arelys Henao Ruiz (Mariana Gómez) spent her early years living and working in the coffee fields surrounding their farming village in Sabanalarga, where illiteracy, poverty, sexism, and violence are parts of daily life. Arelys has a beautiful voice, and, as she gets older, she sings to make herself happy, which attracts unwanted attention. Her life changes when, after an attempted sexual assault, Arelys' father (Juan Sebastián Calero) sends her, along with her mother (Ana Maria Perez) and her siblings, to live in town. There Arelys has the opportunity to enroll in school and learn more about the world. However, the violence continues, and eventually she finds herself living in Medellín and embarking on a difficult path that will eventually lead to stardom.
Is It Any Good?
The music-filled biopic is a fictional reinterpretation of Colombian pop and ranchero artist Arelys Henao's early years before becoming an iconic Colombian singer. It highlights the harrowing experiences Arelys and her family experienced, like many Colombian farmers in the 1980s and '90s who were displaced because of violence stemming from the armed conflict. It also points to key events that helped mold her career, including how she met and fell in love with now-husband and tour manager Wilfredo Hurtado (played by José Ramón Barreto). But The Unbroken Voice also has a sentimental, telenovela-like vibe to it, which those unfamiliar with Colombian culture and history may find jarring, given the brutality and pronounced sexism it displays. Nonetheless, the story is intended to serve as an homage to all Colombian women by highlighting what they have had to endure.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the sexism that characterizes the Colombian society in which Arelys Henao grew up. How did this sexism fuel violence? Has this changed since the 1980s and '90s?
The Unbroken Voice is characterized as a tribute to all Colombian women. Why? What messages does it send, and who is it sending them to?
TV Details
- Premiere date: November 23, 2022
- Cast: Mariana Gomez, Ana Maria Perez, Juan Sebastián Calero, José Ramón Barreto
- Network: Netflix
- Genre: Drama
- Character Strengths: Courage, Perseverance
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Last updated: December 31, 2022
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