My Brilliant Friend
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As a young girl in the 1950s, my mother was convinced that her maternal grandparents hated one another.
Loudly, and vigorously, and without any soft edges.
Its a stereotype, she shrugged, for a reason.
Of course, Elena and Lilas story has now been bent and revived by three sets of hands.
Its an act of aggression.
AdaptingMy Brilliant Friendto the screen may be an exercise more foolish in intent than most page-to-TV leaps.
And in this debut the shows director already seems to have some trouble enlivening Ferrantes tightly packed universe.
He essentially runs the neighborhood and his brutish older son makes sure even the little girls fall in line.
In fact, theyre almost augmented.
Lila and Elenas intellects mark them as distinct from their peers, and as competitors for each other.
Elena encourages softness and reason in Lila, and Lila propels Elena into demanding more from life.
The boys, on the other hand, curse and push, undisputed owners of the schoolyard.
