La Casa de Las Flores (The House of Flowers) is one of the latest original Netflix series offerings – a telenovela set in Mexico City which follows the lives of the de la Mora family members and their web of dramas that started when Roberta committed suicide by hanging herself inside the House of Flowers.
First, just who the heck is Roberta? At the pilot episode, it was revealed that she’s the mistress of the head of the family (Ernesto de la Mora played by Arturo Rios) whose lies he’d kept for years started catching up on him. The story is also conveniently narrated by Roberta herself, ala Desperate Housewives.
La Casa was marketed as a dramedy series with a twist. Yes, there are a lot of twists in it – mostly predictable twists. What it lacks, though in originality, it makes up for its charming cast and diverse characterizations.
There’s Virginia de la Mora (Verónica Castro) whose world turned upside down upon learning about the deceit of her husband and eldest daughter, her middle child’s black boyfriend and her youngest son’s homosexuality. It’s a full buffet for Virginia but as the ‘real’ patriarch of the de la Mora family, she’d make sure that no-one and nothing in the world would ever break them as a family.
Then there’s the eldest de la Mora sibling Paulina (Cecilia Suárez). Paulina cracks me up like no other with her accent. She’s the character that you’d either hate or love because she’s a total nutjob and a total badass too!
Elena (Aislinn Derbez), the middle child meanwhile came home to Mexico from taking her masters in New York to announce her engagement with her black boyfriend Dominique. Elena just seemed like the bimbo of the series until she found herself in a sticky situation with her almost half-brother Claudio (Lucas Velazquez). Claudio’s character creeps me out a bit, tbh.
And speaking of bimbo – we’ve the youngest, the unico hijo of the de la Mora familia cum fickle minded, bum-fuckboy but definitely super adorable Julian (Dario Yazbek Bernal). Julian is the sunshine of this series. He’s annoyingly charming and adorably frustrating. Add to the fact that he’s in the closet, has a sexual relationship with a girl and is in a secret relationship with their family’s financial advisor, Diego played by the tall, dark and handsome Juan Pablo Medina. Julian and Diego’s subplot seems to be winning the internet with their power couple good looks and Julian’s puppy-like persona in the series.
The show is definitely a step forward and a mostly unique subplot from the usual telenovelas we’re used to as the show embraces diversity like no other. It may sound a tad campy but it’s actually hella entertaining. Its humor isn’t slapstick nor subtle but it’s there glaring from each characters’ story arc. If you’re looking for something stress-free amidst the political mind-game online and on TV (who still watches TV?), then this show is definitely your best option.
Creator: Manolo Caro
Cast: Verónica Castro, Cecilia Suárez, Aislinn Derbez, Dario Yazbek Bernal, Sheryl Rubio, Paco León, Juan Pablo Medina, Arturo Ríos, Claudette Maille, Lucas Velazquez, Sawandi Wilson, Sofía Sisniega, Luis de la Rosa, David Ostrosky, Natasha Dupeyrón, Alexa de Landa
Lara Jean played by Lana Condor wrote love letters to all the boys she ever had a crush on since childhood but kept them in a box until her younger sister , Kitty stole the letters and sent them to the boys she apparently “loved.”
Katarina Rodriguez first gained popularity as a contestant in the second season of Asia’s Next Top Model in 2014 where she finished third next to fellow Filipina contestants Jodilly Pendre and eventual winner Sheena Liam of Malaysia.
On his 24th birthday, Adam comes out as gay to his three best friends – Chris (Parker Young), Nick (Chord Overstreet), and Ortu (Jon Gabrus). Naturally, the three freaked out but immediately reassured Adam that nothing is going to change between them.
This film is like a Coldplay music video for me. It’s affecting and it’s melodious and by the end of it, it felt like you’re grasping for something. Beach Rats is so much like that. Its enigmatic lead Harris Dickinson is nothing short of spectacular playing a repressed youth from Brooklyn finding his sexuality and his place in the sun. It’s a rough environment for him and he’s got to fit the mold to survive.
I absolutely adore this film! It’s very old school in a way but very refreshing at the same time as its story revolves around two gay schoolmates and the friendship between them that you won’t even mind that there’s not a single whip of romance in it and I loved it for that! Not every gay guys are out there are looking for their “one true love!” I also loved the fact that there’s nothing remotely sexual about it. It’s just about two high school boys trying to fit in or in Ned’s case, trying to get through high school.
The Danish Girl is inspired by the true story of married Danish painters Einar and Gerda Wegener. When portrait artist Gerda Wegener as her husband Einar to stand in for a female model who couldn’t make it on time, it reveals her husband lifetime identification as a woman.
The first film, Mamma Mia was an absolute delight! I’m a big Meryl Streep fan and I absolutely adore the storyline of the first installment which was released a decade ago. Can you believe that it has been 10 years? Doesn’t feel like it at all!
Cargo reminds me a little bit of John Hillcoat’s The Road starring Viggo Mortensen and Kodi Smit-McPhee or maybe it’s simply because of the same father and his kid scenario in a post-apocalyptic world – a sort of Zombie apocalypse for this film. I honestly didn’t like The Road that much when I initially watched it but rewatching it has been a rather enlightening experience.
PADDYLAST INC. 