Lately, I’ve seen a trend where Spanish movies, shows, and documentaries are becoming more popular. And for good reason. Currently, Spanish media is producing some of the best content you can watch. While most people know about Money Heist, Elite, and The Platform, documentaries are something that often goes unnoticed.
I set out on a journey to watch and find some of the best documentaries to stream. In this article, I’ll share my pick.
Most of these documentaries are available on Netflix, so I recommend using a fast internet connection like the one offered by Optimum. I’ve had a great experience upgrading my internet plans with the help of their 24/7 Optimum servicio al cliente, specially tailored for Spanish-speaking internet users like me.
So, without further ado, here are my picks for the six best documentaries you should watch.
100 Días Con la Tata
- Release Date: December 29, 2021
- Genre: Melodrama
- Director: Miguel Ángel Muñoz
This heartwarming documentary is about the director and actor Miguel Ángel Muñoz, who documents 100 days of his life. He moves in with his 95-year-old relative, Tata, to take care of her during COVID-19.
The virus had a bigger impact in Madrid, which is why Tata’s caretakers quit. Not knowing how long the pandemic would last, Miguel takes the responsibility and moves into her apartment. The documented days are full of fears, joy, hope, and a bit of existential crisis. The two begin streaming on Instagram and start a show called La Cuarentata.
I recommend this moving documentary since it teaches some valuable life lessons about genuine relationships, love, and fear.
La Trinchera Infinita
- Release Date: October 31, 2019
- Genre: Thriller / War
- Directors: José María Goenaga, Jon Garaño, Aitor Arregi
This drama-documentary is about the 1936 Spanish Civil War during the dictatorship of Francisco Franco. Rosa and Higinio, young newlyweds, fear political persecution and hide indoors. The two hide inside their house for 33 years and deal with parenthood and marital troubles.
Their life of fear and deception is highlighted brilliantly through the use of amazing cinematography. The storytelling is done through chapters, with each title alluding to a different theme.
This movie can be extremely intense at times and I highly recommend watching this documentary if you’re interested in a historical war thriller.
Lorena, la de Pies Ligeros
- Release Date: November 20, 2019
- Genre: Sport
- Director: Juan Carlos Rulfo
This short documentary portrays the story of Lorena Ramiraz, a runner from northern Mexico, who wins ultramarathons wearing a skirt and sandals.
She completes and wins international marathons and builds a name for herself, traveling an astonishing number of distance over varied terrain in different weather conditions. The story focuses a lot on her home life near the Chihuahua state. While there is some competition footage, we see a different perspective that shows her everyday life.
The documentary is masterfully lit and edited, which gives some scenes a dreamlike quality.
Fariña
- Release Date: February 28, 2018
- Genre: Crime Drama
- Director: Carlos Sedes, Jorge Torregrossa
If you’re a Spanish speaker, you probably already know that Fariña is Flour, slang for cocaine. This docu-series shows the life of Sito Miñanco, a Galician drug trafficker.
Sito, who is a fisherman skilled in handling speedboats, starts working in a smuggling ring organized by Vicente Otero Pérez. Vincente is the head of the Galician clans in Ría de Arousa. Soon, Sito starts his own ring along with two other friends and contacts other traffickers interested in introducing cocaine in Europe.
I like the show particularly because it involves subject matter like freedom of speech, tainted politicians, and drastic court decisions.
Street Food: Latin America
- Release Date: July 21, 2020
- Genre: Food
- Director: Carlos Sedes, Jorge Torregrossa
While the documentary series was created by American directors, I feel like the Latin American version of this series is a great watch.
You’ll see archival footage as well as face-to-face interviews with street food chefs who talk about the food they make and its history. Every episode in the season features different regions and their food, from Argentina to Brazil, Mexico, Peru, Colombia, and more.
The food shown is mouth-watering, so watching this show on an empty stomach can be torturous.
El caso Wanninkhof-Carabantes
- Release Date: June 23, 2021
- Genre: Crime
- Director: Tània Balló
This documentary describes the events that took place during the murder of Rocío Wanninkhof. She was a local of Malaga town and was traveling back home on foot. However, she never made it back home.
She was later found dead and Dolores Vázquez, a cleaner, became the initial suspect. The documentary shows how Vázquez’s alibi was ignored and her sexuality was used to incriminate her to sentence her to 15 years in jail.
I love this documentary since it shows how the justice system is often flawed and can ruin someone’s life, even with a lack of evidence.
While there are dozens of other Spanish documentaries out there, these were my picks for some of the best ones. Do you have any suggestions? Feel free to share them in the comments below.