Okupas | |
---|---|
Genre | Drama |
Written by | Bruno Stagnaro
Alberto Muñoz Esther Feldman |
Directed by | Bruno Stagnaro |
Starring | Rodrigo de la Serna
Diego Alonso Ariel Staltari Franco Tirri |
Theme music composer | Axel Krygier |
Country of origin | Argentina |
Original language | Spanish |
No. of episodes | 11 |
Production | |
Running time | 40–45 minutes |
Production company | Ideas del Sur |
Original release | |
Release | October 18 – December 27, 2000 |
Okupas (from Spanish, "squatters") is an Argentine drama miniseries produced by Ideas del Sur and written and Directed by Bruno Stagnaro. It aired on Argentina's Canal 7 (known as Televisión Pública since 2006) for eleven episodes between October and December 2000. Set in Buenos Aires at the end of the 1990s and beginning of the 2000s, the series tells the story of a group of men who squat an abandoned house while dealing with an increasingly violent city.
Okupas was highly successful in its original run, receiving positive reviews and winning three Martín Fierro awards (including Best Miniseries and Best Director for Stagnaro). It garnered a notable cult following despite a lack of reruns in subsequent years. A fully remastered version of Okupas was released on Netflix on July 20, 2021 featuring high-definition sound and image and original songs by Santiago Motorizado.
Cast and characters
editMain cast
edit- Rodrigo de la Serna as Ricardo, a young man from a middle-class family who dropped out of college. He is initially asked to take care of the house by his cousin Clara.
- Diego Alonso Gómez as Pollo, a lifelong friend of Ricardo who has spent most of his life in the streets and tries to protect Ricardo whenever he is in danger.
- Ariel Staltari as Walter, a Rolling Stones fan who takes dogs for walks for a living. Walter is first seen as Ricardo asks him for help to stop his troubling neighbors, but soon moves in along with his dog Severino.
- Franco Tirri as Chiqui, a friend of Pollo who is invited by the latter into the house. He is the most introspective member of the group, often delving into philosophical thoughts out loud, and quickly grows close to Walter and Severino.
Recurring cast
edit- Ana Celentano as Clara Alvarado, Ricardo's cousin and real estate worker. She maintains a brief romantic relationship with Pollo.
- Dante Mastropierro as Negro Pablo, Pollo's former roommate and partner in crime who becomes enemies with the protagonists and grows a particular resentment towards Ricardo.
- Sergio Podeley as Mulo, Negro Pablo's hot-headed roommate and henchman.
- Augusto Britez as Peralta, Ricardo's cunning but kindhearted neighbor who takes up lowly jobs every day to earn a living. His relationship with the protagonists is initially sour, but they later become friends.
- Rosina Soto as Sofía, Peralta's daughter and a teen mother. Ricardo and her begin a romantic relationship, but later fall out over their class differences and clashing worldviews.
- Jorge Sesán as Miguel, a former inhabitant of the house who returns after having been evicted. He is manipulative, aggressive and highly experienced with firearms.
Episodes
editNo. | Title | Original air date | Prod. code | |
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1 | "The Five Commandments" (Spanish: Los Cinco Mandamientos) | Bruno Stagnaro | Bruno Stagnaro | October 18, 2000 |
2 | "Welcome on the Train" (Spanish: Bienvenidos al Tren) | Bruno Stagnaro | Bruno Stagnaro | October 25, 2000 |