“La  Catedral del Mar”

“La Catedral del Mar” is a Netflix original based off of one of Spain’s highest selling novels, a work of historical fiction about a serf in Spain, under an abusive lord, who decides to leave to Barcelona.

The first episode introduces the protagonist, a peasant under an abusive and manipulative landlord. The man eventually runs away with his son to Barcelona after realizing all that’s available to him in his homeland is more pain and suffering for him and his family. His wife is taken by the landlord, and after accidentally killing another man, the peasant Bernat flees and brings his son, Arnau. After arriving in Barcelona, Bernat finds his sister, the wife of a merchant who built his business off of the dowry Bernat provided by giving up his inheritance. The man provides Bernat a place to stay, and food to eat, in exchange for hard slave labor.

This show is an interesting and accurate look into medieval Spain. Barcelona grants citizenship to all residents who stay and work in Barcelona a year, providing slaves with an opportunity to work for food, room, and board and the chance to earn citizenship.  It also provides good insight into Spain’s feudal system and the way rich merchants and noblemen were able to get away with anything they wanted to. The historical fiction show examines the parts of Spain’s history that otherwise would be overlooked, such as rampant slavery and the abuse of power of many merchants, nobleman, and landlords committed.

¡Muy interesante! Tengo que verlo. 

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