What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedHarsh Times
Mario Vargas Llosa · Book · 2022
If you loved Harsh Times, start with Argentina 1985 (Santiago Mitre, 2022) — a film on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Harsh Times across media.
If Harsh Times captivated you, explore these stories that expose the brutal intersection where political machinations dismantle individual lives and democratic institutions.
Films on the same thread
I'm Still Here
Walter Salles · Film · 2024
Shares a thread with Harsh Times: Political Intrigue.
Like Harsh Times, this film captures the devastating personal toll of authoritarian regimes, showing how families are forced to navigate the wreckage left behind by systemic political state violence.
Argentina 1985
Santiago Mitre · Film · 2022
Shares a thread with Harsh Times: Political Thriller.
Just as Harsh Times documents the fight against historical injustice, this film highlights the grueling, necessary pursuit of accountability when facing the architects of a bloody military dictatorship.
The Housemaid
Paul Feig · Film · 2025
Explores: Class Conflict, Gaslighting, Identity Theft.
While tonally distinct from the historical scope of Harsh Times, this thriller mirrors the feeling of being trapped in a dangerous game where secrets and power dynamics dictate survival.
The Constant Gardener
Fernando Meirelles · Film · 2005
Shares a thread with Harsh Times: Political Thriller.
This film echoes the investigative spirit of Harsh Times, thrusting an ordinary individual into a lethal conspiracy that exposes how government corruption destroys lives in the name of power.
Series on the same thread
Narcos: Mexico
Doug Miro · Series · 2018
Shares a thread with Harsh Times: Corruption.
Much like the power struggles depicted in Harsh Times, this series illustrates the dangerous consequences of foreign intervention and the corrupting influence of unchecked power in regional politics.
Holocaust
Gerald Green · Series · 1978
Explores: The Holocaust, Nazi persecution, Jewish persecution.
This historical drama shares the thematic weight of Harsh Times by illustrating how ordinary people are caught in the destructive gears of regimes that prioritize ideology over human life.
House of Cards
Beau Willimon · Series · 2013
Shares a thread with Harsh Times: Corruption.
This series captures the same ruthless political ambition found in Harsh Times, focusing on the cold, calculated manipulation required to ascend and maintain power within a corrupt system.
Bosch
Eric Overmyer · Series · 2015
Explores: Moral Ambiguity, Redemption, Police Corruption.
Like the protagonists in Harsh Times, this detective must navigate a world of moral ambiguity where the lines between justice and institutional corruption are consistently blurred and dangerous.
Podcasts on the same thread
Rachel Maddow Presents: Ultra
Rachel Maddow, MS NOW · Podcast · 2026
Shares a thread with Harsh Times: Political Thriller.
This investigative work mirrors the historical scrutiny of Harsh Times, uncovering the hidden domestic threats and authoritarian movements that challenge the foundations of a functioning democratic society.
The Coming Storm
Podcast
Explores: American Politics, Deep State, Conspiracy Culture.
This podcast explores the same sense of unease found in Harsh Times, examining how conspiracy and political polarization can fundamentally alter the reality of a nation's history.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Harsh Times based on a true story?
Yes, Harsh Times is a work of fiction that tells the true story of the political turmoil in Guatemala during the 1950s. The book recounts the 1954 military coup against the democratic government of Jacobo Árbenz, which was supported by the CIA and the Eisenhower administration.
What historical period does Harsh Times cover?
Harsh Times focuses on the political events of 1954 in Guatemala. The narrative details the military coup led by Carlos Castillo Armas, which was fueled by an accusation from the United States government that had lasting and drastic consequences for the entire Latin American region.
Who wrote Harsh Times?
Harsh Times was written by Mario Vargas Llosa and published in 2022. The author utilizes his skills as a master of fiction to document the historical realities of the CIA-backed coup that toppled the democratic government of Jacobo Árbenz in Guatemala during the mid-twentieth century.
Does Harsh Times explain why the coup happened?
Yes, Harsh Times explores the motivations behind the 1954 coup in Guatemala. The book details how the Eisenhower administration supported the military action of Carlos Castillo Armas against Jacobo Árbenz based on a specific lie that resulted in significant and long-term consequences for the region.