L'amica geniale (De geniale vriendin)

  • 469'
  • Italy
  • 2018

Adaptation of the first part of the hugely popular Neapolitan Novels by Elena Ferrante, a pseudonym for an author whose real identity was long unknown. They tell an epic story of two working-class girls in post-war Italy: shy Elena Greco and wild Lila Cerrullo. Both are smarter than the other kids, but while Elena has to study hard, Lila is naturally brilliant. Thanks her parents' sacrifices, Elena gradually escapes her background, but Lila has to help out in her father’s shoe shop.

Through the early years of these best friends and the tensions in their surroundings, Ferrante opens a window onto post-war Italy, where a new generation must decide whether to cling to the pain of the fascist past or choose a new future. The eight-part series also shows the difficulties facing young women longing to be free in a patriarchal world.

Director
Saverio Costanzo
Countries of production
Italy, Belgium
Year
2018
Festival Edition
IFFR 2019
Length
469'
Medium
DCP
International title
My Brilliant Friend
Language
Italian
Producers
Domenico Procacci, Lorenzo Mieli, Mario Gianani, Nadia Khamlichi
Production Companies
Fandango, Wildside SRL, uMedia
Sales
Radio Televisione Italiana (RAI)
Screenplay
Saverio Costanzo, Elena Ferrante, Laura Paolucci, Francesco Piccolo
Cinematography
Fabio Cianchetti
Editor
Francesca Calvelli
Production Design
Giancarlo Basili
Sound Design
Ronen Nagel
Music
Max Richter
Cast
Valentina Acca, Antonio Buonanno, Gennaro Canonico, Pina Di Gennaro, Sarah Falanga, Luca Gallone, Antonio Milo
Local Distributor
NPO
Director
Saverio Costanzo
Countries of production
Italy, Belgium
Year
2018
Festival Edition
IFFR 2019
Length
469'
Medium
DCP
International title
My Brilliant Friend
Language
Italian
Producers
Domenico Procacci, Lorenzo Mieli, Mario Gianani, Nadia Khamlichi
Production Companies
Fandango, Wildside SRL, uMedia
Sales
Radio Televisione Italiana (RAI)
Screenplay
Saverio Costanzo, Elena Ferrante, Laura Paolucci, Francesco Piccolo
Cinematography
Fabio Cianchetti
Editor
Francesca Calvelli
Production Design
Giancarlo Basili
Sound Design
Ronen Nagel
Music
Max Richter
Cast
Valentina Acca, Antonio Buonanno, Gennaro Canonico, Pina Di Gennaro, Sarah Falanga, Luca Gallone, Antonio Milo
Local Distributor
NPO