L to R: Actors Joaquín Cosío, Diego Calva, Sergio Bautista and Renata Vaca portray a family who own … [+] and struggle to operate a private ambulance in Mexico City.
Midnight Family is a gripping new Apple TV+ Spanish-language medical drama series that plunges viewers into the chaotic world of private ambulances in Mexico City. Based on the 2019 documentary of the same name, the show explores the stark realities, social contrasts and health inequities of a metropolis with over 10 million inhabitants but only about 100 government-run ambulances. At the time of the documentary, there were fewer than 50.
The Tamayo family is at the heart of this intense 10-episode series, led by Ramón, portrayed by Joaquín Cosío (Gentefied, Narcos: Mexico) and his daughter Marigaby, played by Renata Vaca (City of Dreams, Rosario Tijeras). By day, Marigaby is an ambitious medical student, but at night, she joins her father and brothers Marcus, played by Diego Calva (Babylon, City of Dreams), and Julito (Sergio Bautista) in their privately-owned ambulance, racing through the streets to save lives – and beat other competitors – to make a living.
The show delves deep into the ethical dilemmas and personal struggles faced by the Tamayos as they navigate a broken healthcare system. The story and complexity of his character were a draw for Cosío.
Joaquín Cosío in a scene from “Midnight Family.”
“The way Ramón Tamayo balances his life – trying to maintain a normal family life while doing a job that’s the total opposite. It’s a fast-paced, dangerous profession. There’s a stark contrast between seeking family tranquility and having a job that’s all about urgency, rescue, and serving others,” he says. “He’s constantly tempted by what isn’t right, but at his core, he’s a noble person. His main concern is his family and he tries to navigate the moral and ethical challenges that come with a job like his.”
Cosío, Vaca and Calva, who all had to undergo some basic paramedic training for their roles, say they were unaware of the ambulance crisis in Mexico City. Seeing the documentary before working on the fictionalized version of a story based on a real-life problem was eye-opening.
“I was really shocked when I saw the documentary and I was like, ‘Why didn’t anyone tell this story before?’ It’s an interesting story that has many layers,” says Vaca. And the series, she adds, allows an inner exploration of the characters, so viewers “really get to understand what they want, their dreams, their fears.”
L to R: Renata Vaca, ergio Bautista and Diego Calva are the Tamayo siblings in “Midnight Family.”
Calva reflects on the broader implications of the story. “Mexico City has a secret life that you are not able to see often. There’s like these faceless heroes literally holding and supporting the whole city before they collapse.”
The series doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of Mexico City’s healthcare crisis, but it also infuses moments of warmth, hope, and even a little humor. “Of course it has some hard scenes to watch,” says Vaca. “But there are some situations that are funny. I think that this is a very good way to get into people’s minds.”
Calva expresses hope that the series on a global platform like Apple TV+ will “begin or start the conversation” about healthcare inequality in Mexico City and inspire change in the world of emergency medicine in his native country.
The hour-long medical drama, shot in Mexico with a Latino cast and crew, made its debut on Wednesday, September 25, 2024. New episodes will drop weekly every Wednesday through November 20, 2024.
