Capadocia: Un Lugar Sin Perdon is an HBO Latin America Original that showcases both the political and social angles of an experimental penitentiary in Mexico City. The penitentiary exploits the inmates as a form of cheap labor for the government. A riot begins that uncovers the violent truths behind the experimental prison and viewers are thrust into the lives of these female inmates. This series depicts the complexities of prison life as well as the political posturing that takes place. There is plenty of emotion in this series and it is executed at a very high
level.
The performances in this series are brilliant. Much like the HBO original series Oz, there is a proliferation of important characters. With a series such as this, each character needs to be both written and performed exceptionally well. Oz achieved transcendence as a series because it had its share of memorable characters. This series uses a similar template by engaging its audience with a range of interesting personalities. For example, Lorena Guerra (Ana De La Reguera) is a common housewife that commits a crime of passion when she walks in on her husband with her best friend. Once she enters the prison, her performance becomes exceptional as she reacts to the brutality of the violence. A character comparison to Oz would be Tobias Beecher. Guerra and Beecher both are introduced as wide eyed optimists and the system chews them into tougher individuals.
The aesthetic and presentation of the series is raw. There are plenty of jarring moments that the camera does not shy away from (i.e. prison riots, fights and violence etc…). I found myself interested in the characters, enjoying the shot selection and pacing and also engaged in the story arc. This type of visceral experience is welcomed and enjoyable. Therefore, fans of Oz would appreciate the execution and narrative. I was pleasantly surprised with it and am eager to catch up on the second series.
Video
Capadocia is presented in 2.35:1 widescreen. The majority of the scenes are dark, grim and hazy. The camera is often moving to add a sense of intensity to the emotional scenes. The transfer is clean and completely free of any grain or pixilation. The series looks great and receives top marks.
Audio
The 5.1 Dolby Digital surround is clear and immersive. The score and sound was mixed quite well. The dialogue was a moot point because I was primarily following the subtitles. However, from what I could hear, the dialogue was clear. This edition provided a quality mix.
Special Features
Special Programs: Several deleted scenes. A warning, if you don’t speak Spanish, there is not an option to add subtitles.
Photo Gallery: A slide show of production stills.
Filmography and Characters
Trailer
Capadocia 2: Exclusive Images
Final Thoughts
This job offers its variety of surprises and this series is absolutely no different. The series is both visceral and engaging for its audience. The characters are interesting and I found myself really enjoying it. These are always good ingredients for a successful television series. I would strongly recommend it.
