“Griselda” is a hit on Netflix and is on track to become the most-watched series ever in January 2024. The biopic-dramatization starring Sofía Vergara and singer Karol G has managed to conquer audiences with scenes full of action and suspense. However, as is the case with some of the most successful productions, the changes usually vary a little the originality of the plotjust like the character of Martha Ochoa, played by actress Julieth Restrepo.
Streaming platforms have a king, or rather a queen. “Griselda” is the name of the new series based on the life of the Colombian drug trafficker who has lived in Miami since the mid-1980s. The cast is led by international Sofía Vergara and directed by Andrés Baiz.
Essentially, the series tries to tell the beginning the fall of Griselda Blanco, known in the world of crime as “the godmother.” And although this mega production orchestrated by Netflix is a worldwide hit, we must highlight that it had several modifications to make its plot much more entertaining for the audience.
Actress Sofía Vergara plays Griselda Blanco in the Netflix series (Photo: Netflix)
This is the case of Martha Ochoa, one of the main characters of the series. It is known that in the dramatization she is the cousin of Fabio Ochoa, one of the biggest drug traffickers in Miami and girlfriend of Rafa Salazar.
IT WAS OMITTED IN “GRISELDA”: WHO WAS MARTHA OCHOA IN REAL LIFE AND WHAT HAPPENED TO HER?
Although we see that Martha is Felipe's girlfriend “Griselda”The truth is that this character in real life differs greatly from his portrayal in the series. For example, it is known that she was actually the sister of the Ochoa clan and not a cousin as the production tells us.
Martha Ochoa in the series “Griselda”: The character was played by the Colombian Julieth Restrepo (Photo: Netflix)
Aside from that, Martha Ochoa was kidnapped by the guerrilla group M-19 in 1981. More specifically, November 12, 1981, a key date that marks the beginning of the battle between drug trafficking and insurgency.
“Griselda” also withholds information about her life. It is known that Martha studied economics and was 26 years old when she was kidnapped at the University of Antioquia. She was captured by a group of armed guerrillas who put her in a Renault 12.
Such a kidnapping marked the beginning of a period of terror in Colombia. After the kidnapping, the Ochoa brothers quickly called a meeting for December 1st. This meeting was attended by the 223 most influential people from across the country, including corporate executives, oil companies and members of the National Army.
The kidnapping of Martha Ochoa was quite an event in Colombia. The media reported on his kidnapping every day (Photo: X)
Each member of the cartel contributed $640 and ten men, creating the MAS (Death to Kidnappers) group, a group of more than 2,200 people equipped with weapons and explosives.
The purpose of this delegation was fundamental: to end the lives of all individuals associated with the insurgency group throughout Colombia.
SAVING GRISELDA BLANCO'S GIRLFRIEND: HOW THEY SAVED MARTHA OCHOA'S LIFE
In its first operation, the MAS, a new group, captured 25 people linked to Luis Gabriel Bernal Villegas, the guerrilla responsible for the kidnapping of Martha Ochoa. Since Martha was in their care, M-19 was expected to comply with their demands, which they did.
After 91 days, Martha was released and reunited with her family without paying her captors a single dollar.
The character of Martha Ochoa, played by Julieth Restrepo, as part of an official Griselda poster (Photo: Netflix)
After this rescue, the group of self-proclaimed vigilantes continued their fight against the kidnappers, eliminating those they believed were suspected of kidnapping crimes.
After gaining public support, The MAS launched a relentless campaign against its opponents. Bodies with gunshot wounds or hanging from trees were often found outside newspaper headquarters across the country, accompanied by signs reading: “I am from M-19.” “I am a hijacker.”
However, criminal acts became a serious threat to Colombia as the MAS began carrying out assassinations of judges, journalists and, more generally, innocent civilians.
TECHNICAL SHEET “GRISELDA”
- Original title: Griselda
- Year: 2024
- Country: United States
- Creators: Doug Miro, Eric Newman, Carlo Bernard and Ingrid Escajeda
- Screenplay: Doug Miro, Ingrid Escajeda, Eric Newman, Brenna Kouf
- Music: Carlos Rafael Rivera
- Photography: Armando Salas
- Companies: Latin World Entertainment (LWE), Happy Accidents, Screen Arcade, Grand Electric
- Distributor: Netflix
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