Burning Body (Spanish: El cuerpo en llamas) is a 2023 Spanish thriller series directed by Jorge Torregrossa and Laura Mañá, starring Úrsula Corberó, Quim Gutiérrez, and José Manuel Poga.
Have you heard of the so-called “crime of the Urban Guard”? It involves a love triangle, custody battles, and a charred corpse found in the middle of a swamp. The main suspect: a strong-willed woman with a unique personality that sparked all sorts of rumors in the media. Her strong personality, without a doubt, inspired this series.
It streams alongside the true-crime documentary series “Rosa Peral’s Tapes” featuring Rosa Peral’s statements. Rosa Peral herself has tried to prevent the airing of this series through the courts, and clearly did not succeed.
Here, as always, we only discuss film and art, and we will comment on the series beyond its veracity, focusing on its cinematic storytelling, narrative pace, and coherence within the story itself.
About “Burning Body”
This series knows how to skillfully play with the elements it presents, and there are many: intriguing characters, a disturbing and morbid event like a murder, and in the midst of it all, a Hollywood-esque love triangle.
Don’t expect a documentary series or something aiming to uncover the truth behind the police investigation. “Burning Body” behaves like a work of fiction and, if it weren’t based on well-known and highly publicized real events, it would still be an excellent work of fiction because it contains all the necessary elements to captivate us from the start and keep us glued to the screen.
The resolution of the events remains hidden until the end, and we won’t know if this woman, Rosa Peral, committed the murder, had an accomplice, or what really happened. Speculations, arguments, and a central character whose most cinematic and unsettling essence has been captured by the screenwriters (Laura Sarmiento, Carlos López, and Eduard Sola).
It’s very easy to watch because it has a good pace and, above all, it is a well-constructed story with an intriguing plot that unfolds almost naturally. It’s a Hollywood-style thriller without car chases, more focused on characters and investigation, with a superb performance by Úrsula Corberó, who consistently exudes the aura of a “femme fatale” that has brought success to many actresses. She truly makes the series her own, and it’s clear that this enticing role was worth it for her.
Our Opinion
This eight episode series knows how to play both sides: drawing from the media controversy surrounding the case, and also delivering a compelling fictional series beyond the real events. “Burning Body” is an incredibly entertaining criminal investigation thriller with a fascinating central character.
Plot
When a police officer is murdered and set on fire, all eyes are on two other agents: his girlfriend and her lover.
Series Trailer
The Cast
Úrsula Corberó is a Spanish actress and model who has gained recognition for her roles in both film and television. She is widely known for portraying the character Ruth Gómez in the television series Física o Química, as well as her notable portrayal of the lead character Tokyo in the popular television series Money Heist.
Joaquim Gutiérrez Ylla, born on March 27, 1981, is a renowned Spanish actor who is widely recognized by his stage name, Quim Gutiérrez. He achieved critical acclaim and success by winning the prestigious 2006 Goya Award for Best New Actor for his exceptional portrayal in the film Azuloscurocasinegro.
(Bonus) The City Guard Crime: A Shocking Tale of Betrayal and Deception
In the quiet town of Cubellas, Catalonia, Spain, a heinous crime shocked the community and captured the attention of the nation. Known as the City Guard Crime, it involved the brutal murder of Pedro Rodriguez, a 38-year-old agent of the Guardia Urbana de Barcelona. His charred body was discovered on May 4, 2017, inside a burnt car near the Pantano de Foix. This article delves into the chilling details of the case, the trial that followed, and the impact it had on both the victims and the perpetrators. Read more