The journalist Ana Pastor and the creator Aitor Gabilondo co-direct the new Atresplayer Premium project about the Spanish monarchy
“How is it possible that in Spain there is no documentary series about our royal family?”, journalist Ana Pastor wondered two years ago when she proposed to create the first non-fiction project in our country that covers the most recent history of the Spanish monarchy. Thus was born ‘Los Borbones: una familia real’, a new format directed by the creator Aitor Gabilondo (‘Patria’) and the Atresmedia presenter himself, which will premiere this Sunday on the Atresplayer Premium platform and whose first episode will will be broadcast openly next Tuesday in the prime time of La Sexta.
Pastor explains that there was “a lot of interest” beyond our borders in a project that would tell the recent history of the Spanish crown, which, unlike the British royal family, has not had its own documentary series despite being one of the oldest monarchies. from Europe. The story of the production is made up of unpublished documents, images and testimonials from writers, journalists and people close to the Royal House. The presenter states that they have found some letters from King Alfonso XIII in the archives of the Royal Palace, which show “how much alike the Bourbons”. “It has marked a trend in surprising similarities, especially between Alfonso XIII and Juan Carlos I, especially with the relationship they had with women and that the former was prosecuted for charging commissions,” the communicator continues.
In these first six episodes, which correspond to the first season, ‘The Bourbons: a royal family’ focuses on ‘thematic chapters’ that are not in chronological order, dealing with money, the future of the monarchy and the role of the queen. Letizia , who had a “difficult” adaptation at the Palacio de la Zarzuela “because she is the granddaughter of a taxi driver”, according to the co-director of the documentary series. “She has been mistreated according to her environment, also from the press. He is doing a great job for his daughters, that will be good for everyone,” Pastor added.
For Aitor Gabilondo, “the royal family has been protected for many years” and believes that “the time has come to speak up” to “give back that resentment” to the generation of the transition “who had to trust” in the emeritus king and ” He’s very disappointed in him.” “It is a time to take a critical portrait of this family that defines our lives for all of us. The tone was complicated, I think we got it. There is a middle ground between fellatio and guillotine,” he clarifies.
Because, as Gabilondo recalled, for the past hundred years the Bourbons have “ruled, been expelled and are in crisis”: “It is not a fully established monarchy comparable to the United Kingdom. Nor does it help to believe,” he emphasizes. Pastor, on the other hand, focuses on the self-criticism that the journalistic class has to make about the treatment of the Royal House. “There has been a continued protection and attempt at opacity. The same thing happened a hundred years ago, when Alfonso XIII went to a casino in France in the middle of an economic crisis and was not counted as later at the time,” says the presenter of “El Objective”.
For this reason, Gabilondo does not see it feasible to produce a series on the Spanish monarchy comparable to the prestigious ‘The Crown’ in the short term. “Certainly not because there would be no budget and it’s a little early. I know there are projects, but it’s important to put the real history of the Bourbons into the imaginary and from there, if you’re familiar with them, create fiction,” he explains.
‘Los Borbones: una familia real’, co-produced by Atresmedia TV, Newtral and Exile Content, in collaboration with Alea Media, aims to reveal ‘what the family that rules in Spain really is like’, from Alfonso XIII to today. In the first chapter, the documentary series presents the image that Juan Carlos I and Sofía convey to the public mind, that of a sober, simple, united and happy family, something that did not correspond to what lies behind the gates of the palace of the Zarzuela and that also affected their children
This episode also analyzes the arrival on the throne of the emeritus at the hands of Franco and the confrontations he had with his father, Don Juan, who feels betrayed by his son, as he tells in several interviews saved by the team of the documentary series.
In particular, the chapter focuses on one of the most tragic moments in the life of Juan Carlos I, who accidentally killed his little brother Alfonso, when they were 18 and 14 years old respectively. The series features unpublished footage of the ill-fated Alfonso swimming in the sea during a family vacation and the testimony of Antonio Eraso, the childhood friend of Juan Carlos I. Participating in this first episode include former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, the journalists Iñaki Gabilondo , José Antonio Zarzalejos, Fernando Ónega and the expert on the Spanish Royal Family, Carmen Enríquez, as well as Queen Sofia’s biographer Pilar Urbano, among other guests.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
