The Juanas
CHAPTERS
SYNOPSIS
Laying in bed, close to death, Rosaura confesses to her daughter, Juana Valentina that her father, Gonzalo Echenique, who had previously passed away, was not her real father. Her biological father was Calixto, a man Rosaura had met on a full moon evening, filled with music and rum. She fell in love with Calixto and the day he left he only left her with the memories of his lovemaking caress and Juana Valentina in her womb. Of him she knew his name, the stories he told about his mother Juana, that he came from a town called Sincelejo and that he had a birthmark on his behind with the shape of a fish.
When her mother dies, Juana Valentina leaves her town of birth and her family business to go in search for Calixto, her real father. She goes to Sincelejo with her loyal and committed servant, Teresalsura, who more than a servant is a true friend and confident. Calixto Salguero is a farm man dedicated fulltime to his job. He is married to Doña, a classic caribbean housewife who is not aware of his young day frills.
When Juana Valentina reaches the town of Sincelejo she establishes contact with “Todoelmundo” (Everyone), a special character who knows everything. She also meets Octavio Portorreal and his gang of young friends : Poncho, Gualberto, Maurcio and Lazaro, who immediately fall for her. Given leads, Juana Valentina makes it to Calixto´s house where she is welcomed by Ruben, Calixto´s son, the nicest man she has ever met. He is the sharpest dressed, the most gentleman and the most charming man she has known. They like each other at once and do not bother in pretending otherwise.
Calixto arrives home in shock after having been hit by lightning and surviving it. Juana Valentina questions him and finally tells him that she is his daughter. This fact is proven by the birthmark in the shape of a fish that she has on her behind. Doña can not believe what she hears. Calixto, convinced that this lightning is a holy message which if he does not mend his mistakes God will send him to hell. Frightened he confesses to have known Valentina´s mother and that she is not the only child he had out of wedlock. At this moment he decides that in order to be saved from hell, he must search, find and recognize his other children, not knowing that he has four other daughters, all who have been baptized with the name “Juana”. From this moment on Doña, who is deeply hurt, refuses to speak to her husband and hires some to address him. Sadness overcomes Juana Valentina when she finds out that the man of her dreams is her half brother.
Simultaneously both Octavio Portorreal and Mauricio Fuentelafria fall in love with Juana Valentina and start competing among each other for her love. Meanwhile she learns to care for her father and ends up living at his house, when the real reason for this was that Ruben was driving her crazy. Jeremias is a close friend of Calixto and he is the one place in charge of searching for the remainding children. Juana Valentina joins him in this mission only to find that the four children are four girls - the “Juana's”.
The five sisters all end up living at their father´s house where Doña is determined to do the impossible to get rid of the “intruders”. The five sisters form a unique group and Valentina acts as the “mother” protecting them and fighting for their rights. Things begin to change when Calixto, learning to love his eldest daughter, and wanting what is best for her, decides to find her a good husband, not knowing that she has placed her heart in Ruben. Doña in turn pushes Ruben to marry his girlfriend Dalia. This is the beginning of a difficult and fun love story.
TECHNICAL FILE
REALIZATION Y PRODUCTION: RCN TELEVISIÓN
DATE OF PRODUCTION: 1997
GENDER: TELENOVELA
DIRECTOR: TONI NAVIA
ORIGINAL HISTORY: BERNARDO ROMERO PEREIRO
LIBRETTOS: BERNARDO ROMERO PEREIRO Y JUANA SAMPER
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: AMPARO DE GÓMEZ
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: MARCO ANTONIO GALINDO
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: ARGEMIRO SAAVEDRA
PRODUCTION MANAGER: PILAR FERNÁNDEZ
FIELD PRODUCER: HERNÁN PARRA
ATMOSPHERE: JACK TIRANA
COSTUME DESIGNER: FERNANDO MOSERES
MAKEUP DESIGNER: ROSSIO LÓPEZ
CASTING: CONSUELO SANTAMARÍA
SCRIPT: LILIANA HERNÁNDEZ
PHOTOGRAPHY: RAFAEL ZARATE
DURATION: 110 X 60” EST.