Releasing a documentary and a mini-series on the same case on the same day, Netflix understands how compelling Rosa Peral’s story is. Burning Body dramatizes the case’s events, but it does so in a way that questions the police as an institution. With the case, it’s clear that the ones assigned to protect citizens from crimes are trained enough to hide their own. However, the series also underscores the blatant sexism in their ranks, from higher ups taking advantage of new recruits, to spreading revenge porn on their fellow colleagues. With Money Heist’s Úrsula Corberó on the helm, Burning Body paints a double sided look of a multifaceted woman.
When a police officer is murdered and set on fire, all eyes focus on two other agents: his girlfriend and her lover.
While dealing with divorce proceedings, police officer Rosa Peral (Úrsula Corberó) receives news that her boyfriend and fellow cop Pedro Rodriguez was found dead in the Foix reservoir, Barcelona. Inspired by the real-life Guardia Urbana murder.
With the events of the real-life case available online, viewers would be familiar with the series’ major plot points. Despite this, the show is able to create a sleek mysterious aura from the strategic story structure of writer Laura Sarmiento. This mood is expected for any good crime show, however, Sarmiento does this by maintaining Rosa’s innocence in the first episode. Immediately, we have reasons to side with Rosa– with depression, divorce and custody battle, and a history of being taken advantage of by previous precinct’s higher ups, Rosa surely must be too busy to commit murder. The way each information is presented in the first episode actually made me doubt what I googled about the proceedings. But, of course, the first episode reveals its twist – the who and why of the murder – and shifts the mystery to who Rosa is. It’s a ballsy move, but it makes the show feel so compelling and it sets up the stellar performance of Úrsula Corberó.
Can’t wait to see more from Úrsula Corberó!
