Veneno
By Melissa Camacho,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Excellent Spanish biopic has LGBTQ+ themes, nudity, cursing.
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Veneno
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What's the Story?
Based on the book by Spanish journalist and activist Valeria Vegas, VENENO is a Spanish limited series about the life of 1990s transgender pop culture icon Cristina "La Veneno" Ortiz Rodriguez. The biopic stars Lola Rodriguez as Vegas, who, after meeting a middle-aged Cristina Ortiz (portrayed at different stages of her life by Jedet, Daniela Santiago, and Isabel Torres), decides to write a book about the vedette performer's life. What the young writer uncovers is a harrowing and uplifting life story about how Ortiz evolved from a bullied and rejected teenager in a homophobic Andalusian fishing town, to a high-priced sex worker. It details how Ortiz was discovered by tabloid journalist Faela Sainz (Lola Dueñas), which led to her TV debut on a popular adult late night talk show, and her subsequent rise to fame. Throughout it all, Valeria is coming to terms with who she is and her acceptance in the world around her.
Is It Any Good?
The dramatic coming-of-age series takes an intimate look into the tumultuous life of Cristina Ortiz with poignancy and humor. Using flashbacks to structure the narrative, it highlights some of the key moments that changed the trajectory of her life. But while Ortiz is painted as a likable, relatable, and talented person, the story does not ignore her many flaws, and some of the life-altering bad choices she made. The creators' choice to cast as many transgender actors as possible in key roles (like Paca La Piraña, who plays herself as Cristina's roommate and best friend) adds to this authentic interpretation of her unique lived experience.
Like any dramatic biopic, there's a fair share of fictionalized moments. But the overall miniseries is well-produced and extremely well-performed. Through the eyes of both the young Valeria -- who is embarking on her own personal journey -- and the memories of the older Cristina, it succeeds at revealing how life for the LGBTQ+ community in Spain has evolved (and not evolved) since the 1960s. It also highlights the powerful role the media plays in creating and destroying a celebrity, especially when it's used to comment on "other" people who are different under the guise of entertainment. Overall, Veneno is an outstanding story about a woman who opted to live openly and unapologetically as who she was, while addressing the joys and tragedies she experienced as a result.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the fame La Veneno enjoyed in the 1990s in Spain. Why was she so popular during that time? Was her popularity unique, given the sentiment about the LGBTQ+ community in Spain up until that time?
How have TV portrayals of the LGBTQ+ community changed in the United States over the years? How do they compare to TV representations of the community in other countries? What does Veneno tell us about the way the LGBTQ+ community is understood and valued in Spain?
TV Details
- Premiere date: November 19, 2020
- Cast: Jedet, Daniela Santiago, Isabel Torres
- Network: Max
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Friendship
- Character Strengths: Compassion, Courage, Perseverance
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Last updated: February 28, 2022
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