Desperate Lies: A Dark Brazilian Drama Becomes a Netflix Hit
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Loading... - Adelinde Horn
- 24 Jul 2024
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Netflix's global platform continues to showcase a diverse range of international content, allowing subscribers to delve into different cultures and storytelling styles. This week, a standout title captivating viewers is the Brazilian series Desperate Lies.
Desperate Lies centers around Liana, portrayed by Juliana Paes, whose life spirals out of control following an unexpected pregnancy, betrayal, and abuse. The series explores a rare but possible event as its central theme: Liana's pregnancy with twins who have different DNAs, each from a different father. Her joy turns into a nightmare when she discovers her husband Tomás (played by Vladimir Brichta) has cheated on her with her best friend. To make matters worse, Liana is sexually assaulted after a night out meant to clear her head.
Spanning seventeen years, the story chronicles Liana's struggle to keep her devastating secret while navigating complex themes such as societal shifts in blaming victims of sexual assault, the intricacies of parenthood, and the treatment of women by their romantic partners.
Set against the vibrant yet tumultuous backdrop of Rio de Janeiro, Desperate Lies captures the city's transformation and the rising violence in its neighborhoods. Rio has been the setting for internationally acclaimed works like the Academy Award-nominated movie City of God and Central Station, which earned Fernanda Montenegro an Oscar nomination for Best Actress in 1999.
The series is created by Angela Chaves, known for her work on Brazilian soap operas, the country's most popular TV program format. Despite its longer-than-usual episode count of 17, Desperate Lies has not deterred viewers. The show is currently ranked #10 among the most-watched non-English TV series on Netflix.
Desperate Lies not only entertains but also provokes thought about societal issues, making it a must-watch series that continues to engage audiences globally.
