Netflix is back, exploring the world of the hit show ‘El Marginal.’ Their new series, ‘En el barro,’ promises all the raw emotion and drama viewers love. This time, the story takes us inside “La Quebrada,” a women’s prison. It’s a made-up place, but its creation hides a story as interesting as the show itself.
The show’s crew faced a huge challenge creating this fictional prison. Much of the series takes place inside “La Quebrada.” Interestingly, it’s not a real jail. Instead, the team built the set inside an old factory. This building is located near General Paz, in San MartÃn, Buenos Aires. The factory was originally designed to store food. This fact led to an unexpected problem for the cast.
Sebastián Ortega, the series creator, shared some details in an interview. He said the biggest hurdle wasn’t building the set. It was the extreme cold inside the factory. He explained that the temperature was five or six degrees colder inside than outside. This meant actors faced a tough start to their day. “At 7:00 in the morning, many actresses had to do scenes in their underwear or in the showers. It was incredibly hard,” Ortega recalled.
To fight the cold, the actresses did exercises before each scene. This helped them stay warm. It also kept their energy high for emotionally demanding moments. Julia Freid, the artistic director from Underground, oversaw the transformation. She made the huge factory into a complete prison. This included authentic-looking hallways, bathrooms, and cell blocks.
Actress Lorena Vega, 49, agreed with Ortega’s story. She shared in an interview with Us Weekly en Español that the discomfort actually helped her performance. “The cold helped convey the hostility and crudeness of being deprived of freedom,” she stated. The production team also took great care with sensitive scenes, like those involving nudity. They had an intimacy coordinator, Tati Rojas, on set. This ensured everything was handled with professionalism and respect.
‘En el barro’ is an Argentine series with eight episodes. It premiered on August 14. Filming took place in various spots around Buenos Aires. Every location was carefully chosen to feel real. One intense scene happens early on when the main characters are being moved. They get into an accident on a bridge. This key moment was filmed in Ensenada. The Santiago Island Drawbridge, an iconic spot, added a believable touch to the dramatic escape that kicks off the whole story.
The challenges of building a realistic prison and filming in freezing temperatures forged the world of ‘En el barro.’ This tough atmosphere adds to the show’s authentic feel. The series stars Ana Garibaldi, Valentina Zenere, Rita Cortese, Lorena Vega, Marcelo Subiotto, Carolina RamÃrez, and Ana Rujas. It also features appearances by MarÃa Becerra, Juana Molina, and the late boxer Alejandra “Locomotora” Olivera.