'Sergio' Is Netflix's Timely Original Film

Netflix released a new film, Sergio, on April 17, 2020. Here’s everything you need to know.

Sergio Viera de Mello is not your average diplomat stationed in Iraq. Not many know the true story of the influential Sergio. He eventually earned the nickname “Mr. Fix It.” He was always connecting with world leaders and bringing out their empathy. However, Sergio ended up dying in a 2003 terrorist bombing at the Canal Hotel in Baghdad.

Sergio is a film perfect for the world we live in today

Director Greg Barker has taken it upon himself to tell the final years of Vieira de Mello’s life. Barker has tapped Wagner Moura, from Netflix’s Narcos, to play Sergio. Sergio had quite a storied career. He served in operations all across the globe. He first served as High Commissioner for Human Rights. Most importantly, he then became UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s Special Representative in Iraq.

He arrived in Iraq in 2003, to help the country rebuild after the fall of Saddam Hussein. In the trailer, we see Sergio and his crew arrive at a hotel. This hotel will serve as a base for his expected four-month assignment. Then, Sergio is greeted by American troops, who are tasked with protecting him. However, their presence speaks volumes of mistrust in the unstable country. Next Sergio leaves his vehicle and approaches one of the soldiers for what looks like a friendly conversation, but we don’t hear what he’s saying.

“With ongoing uprisings [and] unrest…this film couldn’t be more timely,” says producer Daniel Dreifuss. “We’d be better off if more people like Sergio were around.” Netflix has found a way to merge political drama, tragedy with romance. Sergio is a thumbnail sketch of one man’s life dedicated to serving the world through the U.N.

Netflix bringing international stars to latest original film

Moura is a 43-year-old Brazilian actor, who gained international fame for his role as Pablo Escobar in Narcos, but also had roles in: Elite Squad, Elite Squad: The Enemy Within, and Elysium. Meanwhile, Ana de Armas has appeared in plenty of films including Knock Knock, War Dogs, Hands of Stone and, most recently, Knives Out.

Netflix released the trailer in January, giving the audience a taste of the story. Sergio is available to stream on Netflix now. The character and his death keep the story going. The trailer dives right into the bombing that kills Sergio. And, in the trailer, Moura gives us another powerful performance. Above all, Sergio became an idealist in an unstable country.

So, will you be watching Sergio?

Follow TV Shows Ace for more Netflix news.