San Sebastián Hails Spain’s Crime Series Boom, Debates Its Drivers

As a devoted follower of international television, I must say that the Spanish crime series boom has truly captured my heart and attention. Having spent countless hours engrossed in these gripping narratives, I can attest to their ability to keep me on the edge of my seat.

SAN SEBASTIAN – Beginning with the inclusion of Spanish television series in its Official Selection, such as “The Plague” from 2017 or the double feature of “Patria” and “Riot Police” in 2020, San Sebastián has long dedicated its first Saturday to discussing TV-related matters.

In this latest gathering, I had the pleasure of being in the presence of Susana Herreras from Movistar Plus+, Laura Sarmiento, the mastermind behind the successful Netflix show “Intimacy,” and the lead writer for “Burning Body.” Additionally, I was graced by Elías León Siminiani, a co-creator of the influential docuseries “El caso Asunta (Operación Nenúfar),” which served as the inspiration for the upcoming 2024 Netflix fiction series, “El Caso Asunta.

Six takes on the panel discussion:

Spanish Crime Series Boom

Title of the panel: “The Spanish Crime Series Boom” may not fully capture its significance. As per EbMaster’s research, between January and September this year, a total of seven Spanish titles claimed the number one spot on Netflix’s Global Non-English TV series charts for 15 out of the 35 weeks, making it the leading non-English language country in terms of chart-topping weeks. Countries such as Korea (8 weeks), Japan (3), and France (2) followed closely behind. Interestingly, six out of these seven top-ranked series were crime dramas or had elements of crime, ranging from the heist dramedy “Berlin” to the drug cartel drama “Gangs of Galicia” or the gender abuse thriller “Raising Voices.

Streamer Drivers

According to Siminiani, the introduction of these platforms revolutionized the landscape: “They provided opportunities for budgets that previously didn’t exist, enabling longer series and extensive investigations,” he explained. Additionally, creators started incorporating their investigation processes directly into their productions, often with no formal legal background. This shift significantly expanded access to the true crime genre, as Siminiani pointed out. For a couple of years now, platforms have been requesting sister titles – both fiction and docuseries. As he put it, the ability to create fiction series is now far more extensive than it was just ten years ago, marking a significant change. This development led to the 2024 Netflix fiction series “El Caso Asunta,” one of Spain’s most successful global releases this year.

True Crime Energizes Crime Fiction

The current series focusing on criminal investigations are proving inspiring, with the prospect of investigation sparking interest elsewhere for the better. According to Herreras, Fran Araujo and Pepe Coira, the lead writers of Movistar Plus+ crime series hits “Hierro” and “Rapa,” conducted research, read, and created documentation before and during the writing process. They allowed reality to overtake their initial ideas, resulting in significant changes to scenes, plots, and characters. This approach is characteristic of Movistar Plus+ as we aim not to have our characters resemble lawyers from foreign crime series, but rather legal professionals working locally. Such authenticity can only be achieved by establishing genuine connections with reality.

Character, Character

According to Sarmiento, the heart of a crime series lies in character development. For instance, “Burning Body” is based on a true crime incident, but what intrigued her was not the ‘what’ or ‘how’, but the ‘why’. She pointed out that certain aspects about the characters – their intense desire for life, discontentment – seemed relatable and familiar to her. What she wished to delve into was why such seemingly ordinary people, despite their eccentricities, could resort to something as extreme as murder.

The Advantages of Crime Fiction

This year’s most prominent series on Movistar Plus+ at the San Sebastián Festival, titled “Querer” and directed by Alauda Ruiz de Azúa, revolves around a woman who, after 30 years of what appeared to be a stable marriage, brings her husband to court, alleging three decades of sexual abuse. Although it’s a work of fiction, the story is inspired by a blend of real-life cases, as stated by Herreras. Fiction enables us to discuss controversial issues while shaping and adding depth to them so they become understandable, she explained. In some instances, fiction can provide more tools for exploration than non-fiction, according to Herreras, referencing the case of “Samber,” a Federation Studios’ hit TV series from late ’80s Northern France, where women were sexually assaulted along the Samber River. The series spans over 30 years before a perpetrator is caught. “Samber” portrays a society. It may seem like a long time ago, but it resonates with current cases in France and even connects to “Querer.

Part Crime, and Real Crime?

France takes pride in its collection of “light crime” shows, such as “HPI,” “Tandem,” and “Tom & Lola.” These series often combine detective work with everyday life, sometimes set against the backdrop of a bright, sun-soaked South. In contrast, Spain has been blending crime with various other genres for quite some time to fill 70-minute traditional prime-time TV episodes. However, these shows now run for just 45 minutes, but the tradition of intertwining crime persists. For example, “Elite” combines one murder per season, sensitive topics, and a significant amount of sexual content, particularly in its early episodes. Crime series tend to branch off into various sub-genres, as noted by the panelists. One such sub-genre that stands out at this year’s San Sebastián is Real Crime. In Iciar Bollain’s “I’m Nevenka” and “Querer,” women are required to prove that instances of sexual harassment or abuse have taken place in a court of law. This isn’t always an easy task.

2024-09-22 09:47

San Sebastián Hails Spain’s Crime Series Boom, Debates Its Drivers

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