The account of Patricia Aguilar, a young woman from Elche who was ensnared by a cult in Peru at age 16 in 2016, unfolds on the screen as a documentary series. 548 Days: Captured by a Cult arrives on Disney+ on June 30, with its world premiere shown at DocsBarcelona on May 26.
DocsBarcelona, an international documentary film festival, hosts the world premiere in collaboration with festival directors Olmo Figueredo and José Ortuño, along with Sofia Fábregas, Disney+ vice president of original production. This new mini-series is produced by La Claqueta PC, a studio known for TV series such as State Against Pablo Ibar and films like Endless Trench. Journalist Vanessa Lozano, who reported on the case in 2020, provides the first on-camera statement since Aguilar’s rescue.
She fell into the grip of a false guru.
Patricia Aguilar was just 16 when she became prey to a so-called guru, Felix Steven Manrique. Their paths crossed online while Patricia searched for guidance following a family crisis, and they maintained daily contact for two years.
Upon reaching adulthood, Patricia diverted funds from the family business and travelled to Peru, where Manrique positioned her as one of the “queens” chosen to repopulate the world in an apocalyptic scenario. Yet the reality she encountered in Peru bore little resemblance to the paradise she had been promised.
The documentary presents Patricia’s motive for telling her story as a warning about the dangers of social networks and the coercive dynamics of groups and cults. The production team hopes the film will prevent others from suffering a similar fate.
Patricia Aguilar’s new life in Elche
Testimonies from family and other survivors
The series includes statements from Patricia’s parents, Alberto Aguilar and Rosa Poveda, and her cousin Noelia Bru. Also featured are Peruvian authorities and survivors, including officers Luis Alfonso Capcha and Cristian Huarcaya, and Maryorie García, a woman who was held captive, with her mother Olinda Valverde playing a decisive role in Patricia’s recovery.
The production team relied on access to court records, videos, and photos, as well as multiple WhatsApp and Messenger conversations connected to the case. Scenes set in Spain and Peru are presented through both documentary footage and dramatized segments, including animated sequences for emphasis.
548 days: captured by a cult marks Disney+’s second original project in Spain, following Amen. Francis Answers, which premiered in April.
Attribution: DocsBarcelona press materials and Disney+ official releases.