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Veuve noire

Veuve noire is a 2025 Spanish crime drama film directed by Carlos Sedes.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Veuve noire (Spanish: La viuda negra, English: A Widow’s Game) is a 2025 Spanish crime drama thriller film directed by Carlos Sedes. Released on Netflix, it is inspired by the real-life Patraix murder case in Valencia, Spain. The film stars Ivana Baquero, Carmen Machi, and Tristán Ulloa.

Synopsis

The film follows a homicide investigation in Valencia after a man is found stabbed to death in a parking area. The evidence points toward his wife, a calm-seeming young widow named Maje. The narrative is based on a real criminal case that became widely known in Spain as the Patraix affair.

Production

Veuve noire was directed by Carlos Sedes and written by Ramón Campos and Gema R. Neira. It is a Spanish-language film produced for Netflix and runs for 2 hours and 2 minutes.

Cast

The principal cast includes Ivana Baquero, Carmen Machi, and Tristán Ulloa. These performers portray the central figures in the investigation and the events surrounding the murder case.

Source material

The film draws on the true-crime case involving the 2017 murder of Antonio Navarro Cedrán in Valencia’s Patraix district. Media coverage and the film’s synopsis identify María Jesús Moreno Cantó, known as Maje, as the woman at the center of the case.

Key facts

  • Veuve noire is a 2025 Spanish production.
  • It is based on the Patraix murder case in Valencia, Spain.
  • The plot follows the investigation after a man is found stabbed to death in a parking area.
  • Suspicion falls on the victim’s young widow, Maje.
  • The film stars Ivana Baquero, Carmen Machi, and Tristán Ulloa.
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Canadian context

The film is available through Netflix, so it may be accessible to Canadian viewers in the service’s Canadian catalogue.

Frequently asked questions

What is Veuve noire?
Veuve noire is a 2025 Spanish crime drama film released on Netflix and directed by Carlos Sedes.
Is Veuve noire based on a true story?
Yes. It is inspired by the Patraix murder case, a real criminal case from Valencia, Spain, in 2017.
Who directed Veuve noire?
The film was directed by Carlos Sedes.
Who stars in Veuve noire?
The film stars Ivana Baquero, Carmen Machi, and Tristán Ulloa.
What is the original title of Veuve noire?
The original Spanish title is La viuda negra, and the English title is A Widow’s Game.
When was Veuve noire released?
It premiered on Netflix on 30 May 2025.

References

  1. AlloCiné — https://www.allocine.fr/film/fichefilm_gen_cfilm=1000021300.html
    Supports: French title, release date, runtime, genre, director, screenwriters, and cast.
  2. Wikipedia — https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veuve_noire_(film,_2025)
    Supports: Identifies the film as a 2025 Spanish film directed by Carlos Sedes and based on the Patraix case.
  3. Netflix — https://www.netflix.com/sn/title/81786479
    Supports: Official synopsis and confirmation that the film is a Netflix release inspired by real events.
  4. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Widow's_Game
    Supports: Original and English titles, release year, genre, director, and principal cast.