TV Series Review: My Brilliant Friend (2018)
“My Brilliant Friend” is an eight-part miniseries that adapts the first book of Elena Ferrante’s acclaimed Neapolitan novels. A second season, based on the next book in the series, is already underway. The entire book series delves deeply into the evolving friendship between two girls as they grow into women, navigating a world of poverty, misogyny, and personal challenges.
The books are extraordinary, a blend of brutality and poetry. As a fan, I can say the adaptation successfully captures the essence of the novels, bringing their visual beauty and harsh realities to the screen. It’s a well-crafted series that does justice to its source material.
The story begins, as does the novel, with an older woman receiving a frantic late-night call informing her that her oldest friend is missing. This leads to a series of reflections on their lives and enduring friendship. The first season focuses on the early years of the two protagonists: Elena “Lenù” Greco, who narrates the tale, and her missing friend Lila Cerullo. It spans a decade, highlighting their childhood and youth in a poor, post-WWII neighborhood of Naples.
Growing up in the slums of Naples, Lenù and Lila are the brightest students in their elementary school. Lila, the daughter of a shoemaker, is a self-taught reader and writer, known for her intelligence and feistiness. Lenù, in contrast, is more reserved and introverted. Despite their differences, they form an unlikely friendship.
Violence permeates their neighborhood, controlled by feuding mafia dons whom everyone must appease. Aside from the crime bosses and their entourages, the community lives in poverty. Education is a luxury few can afford, and women are often relegated to traditional roles. Despite these challenges, Lenù and Lila strive to create new paths for themselves, dreaming of futures beyond their impoverished origins.
Lila’s family forces her to leave school after elementary education, ignoring her teacher’s pleas for her to continue. In contrast, Lenù’s family sacrifices financially to allow her to pursue higher education. However, Lenù must always be the best, as those from the other side of the social tracks constantly belittle her for her working-class background.
As Lenù begins to experience life outside of her neighborhood, Lila becomes more entrenched in it. The Solara brothers, sons of the local don, cruise the streets, picking up girls at will. The neighborhood is a hotbed of violence, with workers and communists clashing over rights and conditions. Deaths and beatings are commonplace.
Lenù and Lila share a close, competitive relationship. Lenù views Lila as the more brilliant of the two, while she herself feels she must work harder to achieve what comes naturally to Lila. Their interactions are filled with manipulation and jealousy, yet their bond remains strong as they both strive to improve their lives.
As they grow older, Lila becomes a strikingly beautiful young woman, drawing the attention of every man in the neighborhood, including the dons’ sons. Lenù, on the other hand, struggles with self-esteem issues and physical insecurities. Lila confidently navigates social interactions, while Lenù feels inhibited. Adding to the tension, Lila faces increasing pressure from her family to marry a brutal local don’s son, highlighting the harsh realities of their world.
“My Brilliant Friend” is a powerful series that combines brutal and tender moments. It’s a brilliant adaptation, reminiscent of modern-day Dickens or Hardy in its portrayal of social and familial complexities. The show immerses viewers in the lives of its characters, evoking empathy even when they make poor choices.
The series vividly depicts the desperation bred by poverty and the difficult decisions it forces people to make. It’s a stark portrayal of social realism, examining the dynamics of friendship, societal structures, and personal resilience.
The acting is top-notch, with a seamless transition as the characters age, maintaining continuity in appearance and mannerisms. The cinematography is rich and detailed, enhancing the story’s emotional depth. The script remains true to the novel, perhaps even allowing viewers to empathize more deeply with the characters than in the book.
Overall, “My Brilliant Friend” is compelling viewing that explores human complexities and social issues. It’s a brilliant adaptation that leaves you eagerly anticipating the next season.
Content Note:
Rated TV-MA. The series includes violence (some involving children), a brief scene of full-frontal female nudity, and a portrayal of sexual violence, focusing more on the victim’s face than the act. Swearing is present, but in Italian, with subtitles.
Where to Watch:
Available on HBO and Amazon Prime.
