Corazon Indomable

Late in this Mexican telenovela (the title loosely translates as “Wild at Heart”), heroine Maricruz Olivarez (Ana Brenda Contreras) makes what can only be called a monumental understatement when she says, “My life is ... dramatic.” In this remake of a genre classic (filmed in 1977 and 1994, and starring Helena Rojo and Thalía, respectively), Maricruz is a peasant “wild girl” raised by her grandpa on the outskirts of the upper-class Narváez family ranch. Rakish airline pilot Octavio Narváez (Daniel Arenas) wants no part of the ancestral land except for his inheritance; to spite his family—and partially out of a genuine infatuation with barefoot Maricruz—he marries and impregnates her. Sadly, Maricruz finds herself driven off the estate by her snobby in-laws and she loses everything. But in a Count of Monte Cristo–style twist, she turns out to be the long-lost daughter/heir of a dying Mexico City casino magnate. Newly made-over as a worldly businesswoman, Maricruz exacts revenge on the Narváez household, even though Octavio (whom she has never properly divorced) remains an obsessive love-hate object. Fortunes rise and fall, characters make miraculous recoveries, and one supporting player remains pregnant throughout a storyline that covers years. Fandom for this genre can be ferociously loyal, so consider this a strong optional purchase for collections serving larger Spanish-speaking populations. (C. Cassady)