Celeste is a mini-series currently unpublished in France but which is making a big splash in Spain. Indeed, this fiction broadcast on Movistar has a taste of déjà vu. It is rumored that the story is inspired by the life of the famous Colombian singer Shakira. So info or misinformation?
Celeste is qualified by certain Spanish media as the series of the year 2024. The critical success is there and the fiction attracts attention with its theme of tax fraud transformed into a thriller for the occasion and especially because the story told has a familiar air…
Celeste, Carmen Manchi is following in the footsteps of the Latin star
Created by Diego San José and directed by Elena Trapé, Celeste is a mini-series composed of 6 episodes which features a tax agent who investigates the possible tax evasion of an international Latin music star.
Synopsis: Céleste is the big star of Latin music. His songs are a worldwide phenomenon. His concerts fill stadiums. She has her own perfume, her own brand of lingerie and a mile-long mane of hair. which promotes its own shampoo. But this series is not about her. Celeste's real protagonist is Sara Santano, a tax inspector who has dedicated her entire life to collecting taxes.
Sara Santano is a tax inspector about to retire who receives on her last day of work the most important mission of her mundane career: to prove that Celeste resides in Spain and must pay her taxes here. A mission on which twenty million euros depend for Spanish coffers. Sara will have to put her life aside to explore that of Céleste and prove that the singer is indeed a Spanish resident…
The series traces the journey of a woman with a classic life who will take on the game of following an international star in the precise pub to demonstrate that she does not pay her taxes. What is daring about this story is that it does not appear to be a thriller but nevertheless takes the form of one.
A link with the international star?
“For us, at no time was Celeste's relationship with Shakira present. We are touchable characters in life and something we all understand is a Treasury inspection.”
Carmen Machi said on FormulaTV
Shakira is one of the best-known Latin artists in the world and above all a symbol of success in Latin America. In recent years, the singer had chosen to spend part of her life in Spain alongside her companion Gérard Piqué and their two children except that an investigation by the Spanish tax authorities accused the singer of having failed to pay more than 14.5 million euros taxes between 2012 and 2014.
Indeed, investigators alleged that she had resided in Spain during those years, but declared her primary residence in the Bahamas to avoid paying taxes. Tax authorities formally charged Shakira with tax evasion, but Shakira claimed she had paid all taxes due and that her primary residence was in the Bahamas.
To avoid a long and costly trial, Shakira finally agreed to a settlement with the Spanish authorities. The agreement reached included a fine of 7.3 million eurosa suspended prison sentence of three years, and an additional fine of 438 000 euros. Shakira said she made this decision to protect her children from the stress and emotion of a trial.
This affair was revealed at the time when the singer was in the middle of a romantic breakup with her companion amid a settling of musical scores with worldwide success. Although the series is not officially based on true events, it bears striking similarities to Shakira's case.
Indeed, in the series, the protagonist Celeste is a famous Mexican pop star, just like Shakira. Both are facing tax investigations by Spanish authorities. Both on the show and in real life, investigations focus on accusations of tax evasion, where stars' income and residency are called into question to determine whether fraud has occurred. Furthermore, both stories demonstrate the intense media pressure that surrounds celebrities when they face public accusations. Celeste's private life, like Shakira's, becomes a subject of public interest.
Ultimately Celeste explores the ways in which a celebrity can resolve a complex case to protect their public image and career, mirroring Shakira's decision to strike a deal with tax authorities to avoid a prolonged trial.
The creators of the series acknowledged that the Colombian singer's tax affair was a source of inspiration for their story. However, they also mentioned that they took into account other similar cases involving artists and athletes to enrich the storyline. Their goal was to present a compelling story that explores the financial and personal challenges of celebrities
We almost forget Carmen Machi:
“You can lie to a psychologist, you cannot lie to a tax inspector. Invoices don't lie and it is true that we know the life of a human being through invoices,” explains the actress. An inspection requires such meticulous work… it's almost detective work and he doesn't forget a single one. »
Carmen Machi during her interview at RNE Mornings with Mamen Asencio
Is Celeste Shakira? In the absence of a sure yes which will not happen, we would almost forget who the star of the series is: Carmen Machi because the story centers not on the singer but on this tax agent who is looking into this matter. the opportunity to make an impression and end your career in style.
In the series we follow the journey of this slightly surreal protagonist who leaves the office to go into the field like a detective in search of clues and sources to prove the fraud.
Carmen Machi is an actress mainly known for her comedic roles. Under the palm trees my mother, Aida or even The tribe, she has a gift for making us laugh and this series represents a new stage in her career. Through the character of Sara Santano, the series addresses serious subjects such as tax fraud and the loneliness of this widow who faces a personal crisis after a life dedicated to work.
The actress gives a stunning performance with a little touch of humor which does not take away from the thriller side of the series. Of course, the series is called Celeste and therefore in parallel there is a singer played by the actress Andrea Bayardo, also known for her music and who here takes her first steps in the skin of a character.
When will we be able to see the Celeste series? For now, the fiction is broadcast in Spain on Movistar plus. It was on sale at Mediapro during the last Mipcom and given its theme, it is very likely that it will find a buyer on French territory. In any case, it is a fiction which has great international potential and which will generate debates.
