Arde Madrid

Madrid, 1961. Ana Mari is single, lame, Francoist and instructor of the Sección Femenina. By order of the dictator Franco, she must go to work as a maid to Ava Gardner's house and spy on her, pretending to be married to Manolo, a hustler who will become the driver of the American actress.

Arde Madrid (2018) is a Spanish period comedy-drama miniseries created by Paco León and Anna R. Costa for Movistar Plus. Set in 1961 Madrid under the Franco dictatorship, it follows Ana Mari (Inma Cuesta), a rigid instructor from the Sección Femenina who is ordered to take a job as a maid in Ava Gardner's house and report on the American actress. She must pose as the wife of Manolo (Paco León), a hustler who has become Gardner's driver, and the two improvise their way through a household that becomes a stage for lies and small betrayals. Supporting turns from Anna Castillo as Pilar and Debi Mazar as Ava Gardner anchor the cast. Across eight half-hour episodes in a single continuing story, the series builds its comedy from awkward disguises, the collision of Francoist propaganda with Hollywood glamour, and the ordinary survival tactics of a city under surveillance. Its tone is breezy and sardonic, with a wistful undercurrent about a country caught between repression and a longing for the outside world. Fans of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and The Americans will find kinship in its blend of period charm and political tension.

• The Marvelous Mrs. Maiselperiod comedy-drama with espionage undertones and a Hollywood-adjacent setting
• Cuéntame cómo pasópostwar Spanish-set ensemble drama with political pressure and character comedy
• The AmericansCold War era intrigue shaped by surveillance and a watched public figure

Created by

Paco León, Anna R. Costa

Release Date

2018-11-08

Episode runtime

30 min

Rating

7.6 / 10 (49)

What is Arde Madrid about?

A Francoist instructor is sent to spy on Ava Gardner while posing as the wife of her hustler driver in 1961 Madrid.

What is Arde Madrid like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Arde Madrid as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.

Is Arde Madrid violent?

No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Arde Madrid.

Which shows are like Arde Madrid?

Shows with a similar feel include The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Cuéntame cómo pasó, and The Americans.

How long is Arde Madrid?

Arde Madrid: 1 season, 8 episodes.

Is Arde Madrid still running?

No, Arde Madrid has ended.