Uncovering Uruguay’s 1971 Prison Break: The True Story That Changed History

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Collaboratively, Federation and OjoFilms are teaming up to produce an original Spanish-language miniseries called “El Abuso,” inspired by the novel “La Fuga de Punta Carretas” written by Eleuterio Fernández Huidobro.

Federation and OjoFilms are combining their efforts to develop a new Spanish-language miniseries titled “El Abuso,” which is based on the book “La Fuga de Punta Carretas” by Eleuterio Fernández Huidobro.

Under the guidance of Academy Award-nominated directors Cesar Charlone and Fernando Meirelles, who were the director of photography and co-director for the 2003 film “City of God”, respectively, the movie “El Abuso” recounts the actual events of a daring jailbreak in 1971, where 101 political prisoners from the Tupamaros, a renowned urban guerrilla group, managed to escape. One of these fugitives was Pepe Mújica, who went on to become the President of Uruguay.

When the world was severely fractured, this escape represented liberation for an entire territory,” stated Charlone. (or)

“In a period of global discord, this breakout stood for the freedom of an entire region,” explained Charlone.

The show will additionally delve into the abduction and murder of CIA agent Dan Mitrione, an incident orchestrated by the Tupamaros to reveal the harsh methods planned for Operation Condor, which took place in a covert phase of the Cold War.

The eight-episode limited series titled “El Abuso” is being reworked by Mariana Santangelo, who previously worked on “En La Puta Vida”. The lead role in the show will be played by Enzo Vogricinc, a winner of the Platino Award and known for his work in “Society of the Snow”. Juan Solá (“Retribution”), Mariana Santangelo, Damian L. Cattini serve as executive producers, while Maria Laura Bersch (casting director of “Society of the Snow”) and Joaquín Romero Vercellino (“Punta Blanca”) are associated producers under Alterna Media.

Solá, co-CEO of Animal Federation in Los Angeles together with Nacho Manubens, the CEO of Federation Spain, expressed their excitement about working with OjoFilms, César and Fernando. They look forward to using Uruguay’s captivating history as a foundation to share this true story with audiences globally,” said Solá.

As reported by its creators, ‘El Abuso’ is being crafted to harmonize local authenticity with universal allure, delivering top-notch, provocative content that illuminates the human toll of political strife. While the narrative is rooted in Uruguay’s past, its topics resonate far beyond the country’s borders and are particularly pertinent.

Damian L. Cattini from OjoFilms shared that they are extremely privileged to share this story, not just because it details an astonishing escape from prison, but also because it brings to light a little-known aspect of the Cold War in South America.

Mariana Santangelo from OjoFilms stated that ‘El Abuso’ is a labor of love and the culmination of countless years spent in meticulous research, supplemented by personal testimonies from key figures such as Pepe Mújica. Our goal is to present an engaging, genuine narrative that showcases the essence of humanity and carries deep historical significance,” she added.

Beyond its merits as a television series, “El Abuso” is also seen by supporters and the Uruguayan industry as a showcase for what the country has to offer as a production site. This includes competitive incentives, cutting-edge facilities, and skilled crews. Lately, Uruguay has drawn significant international projects like the popular Netflix series “Senna” and J.A. Bayona’s Academy Award-nominated film “The Snowtropolis.

Romero Vercellino and Bersch pointed out that while Uruguay is now a popular filming destination for global productions, it’s equally essential to share our own narratives. ‘El Abuso’ is a testament to this, demonstrating how we can collaborate with international partners to showcase the depth of our history on a global scale. At Alterna Media, we are dedicated to producing local stories that have a universal appeal,” said Romero Vercellino and Bersch.

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2025-02-10 16:20