Bolívar: Una lucha admirable (2019) User Reviews (33)

Telenovela-style account of Bolivar's life

[Cruz20 · 8/10 · 14 July 2019]

People need to watch this knowing that the story is told through dramatic elements associated to Latin telenovelas. If you don't like telenovelas AT ALL, if you've never seen a telenovela, or do not even know any telenovela actors (and trust me, there are many good ones) then the style of this show will be difficult to swallow.

Is it sentimental? Yes. But can we accept Bolivar's early life was full of sadness? His parents died when he was young, his sisters forced to marry relatives they didn't love before turning 15, his teachers left him, his grandfather died soon after he was left under his custody, he did not get along with his last guardian (his uncle Carlos). His oldest sister was forced to marry a crazy cousin and his own wife died within a year of their marriage. Bolivar indeed promised (and kept his promise) to never remarry after Maria Teresa's death. So even though the show seems dramatic and over sentimental, there is substantial historical evidence that life in the colonies have enough material for what we now call dramatic or sentimental.

This series is fairly well documented. They incorporate interesting historical events and achievements into the storyline such as the Balmis Expedition, which was the first vaccination expedition in the history of humanity! They managed to tie this story because the Balmis expedition sailed from La Coruña financed by King Carlos IV around the date when Bolivar married María Teresa del Toro (they married in that city and sailed to Caracas around the years of the expedition).

If you want to watch an entertaining show, full of passionate storylines but from which you can also learn some history on the liberation of the americas... this is a fun show to go! It's not for everyone though and I know the aesthetics will be hard for people who have never associated themselves with Latin culture, but maybe try to be more open minded and relaxed about the style and you'll find great things in it. The acting of young adult Bolivar is great, as well as the actresses playing his sisters, his friends Matea, Dionisio and Hipólita (who were his slaves and family), and his most famous lover, Manuelita Saenz. The first episode does not do justice to how the series as a whole develop, you should skip that first episode completely!

Captivating

[deniseconnects · 8/10 · 26 July 2019]

I love anything that has to do with history and I enjoyed this riveting series. I felt some of the acting, especially from a few of the women, was corny and overly dramatized. Some of the musical score did not fit the scene. Other than that, it was so exciting that I binged watched it on Netflix.

Entertaining and solid series

[mark_l_nicholson · 8/10 · 21 September 2019]

As a Spanish learner I am always looking for series in Spanish to watch. If that fits you, then this is a good series to watch. The actors are good, the scenery nice, the story well developed. It's a good quality telenovela along the lines of another great Colombian telenovela - La Niña. And 60 episodes give me lots of practice with my Spanish!

Fantastic!

[lavici4 · 10/10 · 9 August 2019]

I'm a Venezuelan. Loved it so much that I'm re watching it again. Based on the Memoirs of Bolívar's aide de camp Gral O'Leary. So People here who criticize accents etc are ignoring the fact that it is impossible to film in Venezuela nowadays. And both actors playing Bolívar are Venezuelans with same accent. Very entertaining to watch my history classes come to life. Specially in our very dire present political & economical times.

Viva la revolucion!

[m_winship · 10/10 · 14 July 2019]

This is an incredible series of historical fiction, (mostly historical fact), on Simon Bolivar. He is one of my all time heroes as I did a paper on him in college for political sciences. He had charisma, looks, and a magnetic personality. For that, the capitalist forces of old time monarchy in Europe wanted him gone from their guilded lives forever. You can see this, if you don't mind the English subtitles, on Netflix my friends. This is a really great show, full of action, adventure and sex. Enjoy and tell me your thoughts on good ole Simon and his wild and Wiley antics and hudspah. Cheers, Murf

An Excellent Historical Drama in Novela Form

[TBelton1 · 10/10 · 25 July 2019]

To my understanding, the series appears to have taken a few creative liberties with the actual story, (it was a telenovela after all) but it ultimately remained true to the actual history of Latin America's great liberator Simon Bolivar. I am a student of Latin American History and I certainly studied extensively about Bolivar in college, but I must admit that I never studied much about Simon Bolivar's life as a child or young man, and to my mind, this is where the series really shines in particular. Both of the actors who played Simon Bolivar in his younger years brought a lot of passion and excitement to the character and each helped the viewers relate to Bolivar and understand how he became the man he became. No offense to actor Luis Geronimo Abreu who played Bolivar as an older adult, but I think the director should have stuck with actor Jose Ramon Barreto who played Bolivar as a young man instead of switching actors; since the viewers had already bonded with him as the adult Bolivar during episodes 5-25. In any event, both Maximiliano Gomez Silva, who played Bolivar as a 12-13 year old and Jose Ramon Barreto did a remarkably good job in their portrayals of Bolivar, and there were many other great performances by the supporting cast members; such as Erick Rodriguez, who played Simon Bolivar's mentally disturbed cousin Pablo. I would recommend this series to anyone with a love for history or just as a good bit of drama.

Historical, maybe

[pensman · 9/10 · 12 August 2019]

I know little of Simon Bolivar and less about South America and shame on me for my ignorance. No doubt this series will send me to the history books. In the meantime, Bolivar is an entertaining look at the period. We have all the necessary tropes--treacherous relatives, corrupt officials, wavering revolutionaries, and the honest slaves--plus a beautiful background that serves as setting. The actors are good and we don't have the terrible mugging for the camera we see in telenovelas. The series is certainly entertaining and perhaps it might make you curious to learn.

Job well done!

[simic-54309 · 9/10 · 18 July 2019]

The show was brought to my attention by a Colombian friend. Some years ago, we travelled together through Colombia and I was surprised that in each city, they had a square, a statue, a street dedicated to Simon Bolivar. So I was definitely interested in getting more insights into this man, who shaped South American history unlike many others. At first, I was shocked because of the lenght, 60 episodes is quite a lot. I then started and was immediately hooked. WIth time, you identify with the characters and you live together with them through their struggles. It also made me curious about the side stories, eg what happened with Manuela Saenz or General Santander after the story ended. All in all, a great experience and glad that I watched. By the way, 60 hours and not a single minute bored. My only critic would be that some of the characters aren't really introduced and some others suddenly disappear and it would have been interesting to know what happened to them. Apart from this, good job!

Fairly over the top

[borismk-38942 · 4/10 · 6 July 2019]

While I'm sure that many patriots from South America will find this very enjoyable, it struck me as a completely lacking in any nuance and very overly grandiose. It's the South American equivalent of George Washington riding a bald eagle, carrying the stars and stripes, to go fight the British in space. It seems more like a propaganda series and than a realistic depiction of it's source characters.

BEAST SERIES IN A LONG TIME

[emills-46863 · 9/10 · 12 July 2019]

Absolutely loved this show. I cried a lot throughout the series because it made me transport myself as if I lived during that time. Beautiful production and amazing actors. Recommend it to others to watch.

Missed chance

[avgalia · 4/10 · 22 September 2019]

I started watching it in the hope of learning something meaningful about the life of this legendary character.

Unfortunately the production most of the time goes off the track with meaningless scenes that are more appropriate for an soap opera soap to let us know something interesting about Bolívar. Who cares about his uncle? Who cares about his rival for the heart of his loved one? Wouldn't it be more interesting to see how Montesquieu or Rousseau ideas influenced his life? I just watched the first 8 chapters because I realized it would be a waste of my time. Until then the most interesting character was Simón Rodríguez, his early tutor. The rest is crap.

The Series is brilliantly produced, excellently directed, and the performance in all its historical contexts is of an impressive level

[luispalmar · 10/10 · 9 July 2019]

The Series is very well attached to what really happened; certain "politicians" of the present time demonize her because it is not convenient for her to disseminate this series that exposes the tyrants, in the series the tyranny is exercised by the Spanish Monarchy; while at present, the Venezuelan tyranny is exercised by a dictatorial regime, drug trafficker, despot and murderer, so the current government does not want the people to see on the screen, a mirror of what happens in reality. The Series is brilliantly produced, excellently directed, and the performance in all its historical contexts is of an impressive level, its adaptation to history is impeccable. Certainly, and as always, there will be more and less things. It's like the one that reads Harry Potter, Star Wars, Game of Thrones, The Lord of the Rings, etc; There is always something that to those who know what is written will be needed in what was docked on the screen, it is to be expected, however, the plot is very faithful and true to the historical context. I loved it, hopefully the young people who are studying history in the baccalaureate can see it.

Truly Epic

[lindauniver · 10/10 · 6 September 2019]

This is like a very good book - a world that forms in front of your eyes and takes you on a journey. The producers kept the drama high while staying uncannily true to the writing of one who bore witness to the trials of war and the mess of a post war country, presenting a refreshingly balanced view of all parties and why they acted as they did. It's the best series I've ever seen and can't praise it highly enough.

Que viva el libertador!

[LE956 · 10/10 · 7 August 2019]

Perfect alignment of all the elements of a good drama. It coves well and specifically topics about love, sense of freedom, tortures, trust, unity, faith, falsity, treason, social expectations, power of religion and inequality. Regarding the setting, they created their scenes in a way you actually can perceive pure realism.

A Hero revived in all its splendor!

[olgacasa4 · 9/10 · 19 October 2019]

I am a great admirer of Simon Bolivar, a true hero who sacrificed everything for an ideal. This series is fantastic in spite of Maduro's comments, one can only admire Bolivar all over again. The wars of independence were atrocious and only a heroic figure like Bolivar - with the education, connection and wealth and resolve to back him-- could have undertaken it. We can only applaud Netflix and Caracol for such an amazing undertaking. The costumes are beautiful, the scenery of Colombia breathtaking, the acting superb and it will help to remind all Americans (North and South ) who Simon Bolivar was. Some reviewers are pedantic. True, Abreu's accent sounds Colombian, but who is to know what Venezuelan accent was two hundred years ago. True, that some battle scenes are not epic, but all 60 episodes are worth watching not once but twice.

Riveting drama

[johnpelafigue · 10/10 · 21 July 2019]

I've not read any of Bolivar's exploits, perhaps that's why I love this series so much. Aside from that, however, there is so much content that writers always have something new to bring each episode. The only oddity I've noticed is how Abreu's horses always seem small when he's astride, since he's not a very big actor.

Too much fiction- a disservice to truth seekers

[icazares · 3/10 · 6 September 2020]

I did enjoy the series. Both Bolivars (young and late adult) were impressive. I loved Manuelita, and the romance story. But as a history nut, the number of falsehoods is unacceptable. This was either lazy research or the result of a straight desire to produce a soap opera (as opposed to a true homage to one of the greatest men who ever lived). It doesn't help either that the actresses that took the role of Bolivar's first wife and San Martin's lover are former Miss Venezuela pageant winners (and both made it to the late stages of Miss Universe). Apparently, the revolution was surrounded by the most beautiful women in the planet. It's known that Bolivar's wife was not pretty. Let me give you a very short list, just based on the beginning of the story, of historical errors:

• Bolivar's wife never made it to Hacienda San Martin- she got sick straight from her trip, staying and dying in Caracas. She never purchased/ liberated a slave, or managed the Hacienda.
• Bolivar didn't attend Napoleon's coronation in Paris- he may have, instead, attended a coronation in Milan of which there is no reference in the series.
• Bolivar's love affair in Paris wasn't his real cousin- they just figured out that they shared one of their last names and called each other "cousins" since
• Pablo Clemente had some early signs of dementia, but nothing even close to the intensity depicted in the series.
• Carlos Palacios was a predator, but not pure evil as in the series.
• Simon Rodriguez didn't escape on time before the downfall of the Gaul-Espana conspiracy. He was made prisoner and faced a trial. One of Bolivar's most important formative experiences was assisting to the trial where Rodriguez was declared innocent.
• The series completely misses Bolivar's trip to Italy- perhaps the most important in his formation period. It's in Rome where he swears to liberate his country. Bolivar met the Pope in Rome- also omitted from the story.
• No reference to Bolivar's trip to the United States- so important.
• Bolivar and Miranda didn't travel to Venezuela in the same ship

I know for a fact that the original idea was to produce a series about Manuelita Saenz. Perhaps that would have been the right choice.

Viva Simón Bolivar!

[panamania-32145 · 9/10 · 7 September 2020]

I'm Panamanian and I loved this series!I learned so much about our liberator.I've always thought he was married to Manuela Saénz.I had no idea he had a first wife and fathered a child on his campaign in Peru.Entertaining and informative at the same time!Excellent job as usual Caracol!

crappy show

[joeasalasg · 1/10 · 19 September 2019]

I knew the series was going to be fictional as anything adapted for movies or TV. But what I wasn't expecting was something so poorly written, acted and produced. It seems to be written by teenagers and acted by amateurs. Simpy: terrible.

It just take 10 min of the 1st episode to realize how bad it is.

I cant believe how can anybody give this show more than 3 out of 10 rating.

Best series available on Netflix

[Mayra_S_ · 10/10 · 18 September 2019]

The best I've seen in a long time. These series captured Bolivar's life like never before. I really enjoyed watching history. It's been extremely entertaining to say the least. Amazing performances by every character. Bolivar puts other Netflix series to shame. WOW. I'm ready to watch it again! 10 Stars!!

Great Performances

[bocamarcia · 10/10 · 12 July 2019]

I was often on the edge of my seat watching the great performances of this excellent cast.

Excellent production!! Congrats to the entire team

[aaabv-99907 · 10/10 · 13 October 2019]

Best series on Netflix. It is an educational and entertaining way to better understand Latin American history. I am very impressed by every episode, the scenery, the message, the inspiration. Very well done!

Amazing acting

[gadjanovd · 10/10 · 18 November 2019]

Amazing production, especially the second part. Very talented actors. Great.

Appears to be historically accurate

[ConsDemo · 9/10 · 15 September 2019]

As others have noted, the series has a telenovela aspect to it, not just with Bolivar's romances but with the romances of other key players. However, it appears to adhere to actual history. I don't know why Venezuela's idiot President Maduro dissed the series, since everyone in Venezuela reveres Bolivar and the series casts him in a favorable light. However, he does make some military decisions that would not be viewed favorably by modern standards.

If I had a criticism, it's that the military forces often appear too small. You see them getting ready to engage in battles involving many hundreds or a few thousand and sometimes there 20 or 30 troops. However, like I said, it gets most of the story right.

So bad

[malitiloti · 3/10 · 4 August 2019]

It was a chore to watch it all. Awful. Someone said in a review that this is soap opera style and it´s true but is not even a mediocre one. We, argentinians, would say it´s Billiken style of history. Poor writing, worse direction and the acting was horrendous for the most part because there were some truly good ones but you can´t do miracles with this writing so is not wasy to judge. There´s so much bad things to tell about this show that´s just painful so I won´t. Such a pity. Why make it so long when most of the scenes are worthless. Ugh, truly a pity. People here saying this was good, idk, they watched another show. Also, and this is only a detail, making characters more beautiful than they really were??? I don´t get it. Our San Martín, who was the son of an indigenous woman, had dark skin and black eyes and wasn´t beautiful at all. Are we still so stupid I wonder.