Page 3 | My Brilliant Friend Season 4

Cathymaker · 11/01/2025 20:17

TheDogIsInCharge · 11/01/2025 15:26

If she wants luxury then this isn't the place! It was pretty basic and rooms were old fashioned but everyone was really friendly, breakfast was a bit poor but the evening meal was three courses and tasty, every room had a glorious view and there was a thermal park at the bottom of the steps below the hotel next to the sea. You could buy discounted tickets for this if you stayed in the hotel - when we were there it was 5 euros. I was obsessed with the Kniepp pool there.

Bus stop right outside the hotel which took you to any of the other towns for 2 euros.

You could walk into Casamicciola Terme and there was a grocery store next door for wine/fruit etc.

Hotel
https://www.bagnitiello.it/en/

Thermal park
https://vagnitiello.it/en/parco.html

Show quote history

Thank you. I'll have a look. I stayed a walk away from a Casamicciola thermal spa. Really didn't think it would be my scene and ended up staying all day!

TheDogIsInCharge · 11/01/2025 22:37

There's another Elena Ferrante adaptation on Netflix called The Lying Life of Adults. Very different, but I liked it. I read something where she said the only decent man in any of her books is Enzo Scanno. The book and this other series as well as MBF certainly show how little she rates them as truthful or reliable.

Cathymaker · 12/01/2025 08:54

TheDogIsInCharge · 11/01/2025 22:37

There's another Elena Ferrante adaptation on Netflix called The Lying Life of Adults. Very different, but I liked it. I read something where she said the only decent man in any of her books is Enzo Scanno. The book and this other series as well as MBF certainly show how little she rates them as truthful or reliable.

Is that the one with Olivia Coleman? Some people believe Elena Ferrante may even be male but that seems impossible to me. She writes about women better than any female author I've ever read. And I mean no disrespect to the many great female authors I've read. But EF gets right under the skin of the rivalries, jealousies and love and loyalties that bind us together. It's so honest. My life has been nothing like Lila and Lenu's but I can 100% relate to the relationship between the two. It's hard to believe MBF is fiction, it's so raw.

BeetledBrow · 12/01/2025 10:34

You’re thinking of

The Lost Daughter

which was an extraordinary film - and generated a wonderfully lively and thought provoking thread here at the time.

The Lying Life of Adults was more low key, much less lush, but intriguing nevertheless.

Cathymaker · 12/01/2025 13:54

BeetledBrow · 12/01/2025 10:34

You’re thinking of

The Lost Daughter

which was an extraordinary film - and generated a wonderfully lively and thought provoking thread here at the time.

The Lying Life of Adults was more low key, much less lush, but intriguing nevertheless.

Edited

Oh yes that's it!! I wasn't so keen on the way that was directed. Maybe I should try the book. Or maybe find the thread. Sometimes it helps to see what you've missed through someone else's eyes.

Callosity · 14/01/2025 21:37

I’ve loved all four seasons, and am sad to have now finished.

I felt I needed some sort of closure for Tina’s story

Cathymaker · 15/01/2025 07:57

Callosity · 14/01/2025 21:37

I’ve loved all four seasons, and am sad to have now finished.

I felt I needed some sort of closure for Tina’s story

I felt l knew Lila and Lenu. Sad to think we won't see them again.

Clawdy · 15/01/2025 08:27

Yes, I was disappointed we had no closure for Tina's story.

Aoife13 · 04/03/2025 19:50

I think they should have kept the original actors and aged them with makeup. I the books, the events of season 4 happen two years after their initial trip to Montpellier, so how did the actors age so muchespecially the men?! No one ages that much 30 years much less 2 or even 10. It's too distracting from the narrative itself and makes no sense. Also, the casting is just bad. I have no investment, no sense of intimacy or empathy for these characters I no longer know. Sad, because it could have been perfect had they not distracted us so. I miss the original cast and think only a few of them, especially the children, would have needed to be recast. Anywaythe male actors in season 4 are just too old for the roles.

BeetledBrow · 04/03/2025 20:43

By the end I was utterly convinced by Irene Maiorino as the older Lila. She was so ferocious and so, so broken - it was bruising and horrifying to watch. Almost unbearable to contemplate her sadness and see every bit of it reflected in her face and voice and manner. Her hair! Honestly a towering achievement.

In January I said Possibly I’ll get over this but I’m still missing old/young Lenu/ Elena with her funny, awkward face. In truth Alba Rohrwacher is too beautiful … and I still feel that to be true. In trying to disguise her good looks to portray a less obviously beautiful woman they made her too visibly passive and downcast. She lacked the spark that would have been what made Elena attractive - and it was hard to believe this slightly wet dishcloth person wrote books that galvanised women and shocked men.

Nino and his father are up there with Ramsay Bolton as amongst the wickedest characters I’ve ever encountered in fiction.

Cathymaker · 04/03/2025 23:05

BeetledBrow · 04/03/2025 20:43

By the end I was utterly convinced by Irene Maiorino as the older Lila. She was so ferocious and so, so broken - it was bruising and horrifying to watch. Almost unbearable to contemplate her sadness and see every bit of it reflected in her face and voice and manner. Her hair! Honestly a towering achievement.

In January I said Possibly I’ll get over this but I’m still missing old/young Lenu/ Elena with her funny, awkward face. In truth Alba Rohrwacher is too beautiful … and I still feel that to be true. In trying to disguise her good looks to portray a less obviously beautiful woman they made her too visibly passive and downcast. She lacked the spark that would have been what made Elena attractive - and it was hard to believe this slightly wet dishcloth person wrote books that galvanised women and shocked men.

Nino and his father are up there with Ramsay Bolton as amongst the wickedest characters I’ve ever encountered in fiction.

I felt the opposite. I really felt series 4 Lenu was awfully plain. In fact, after 2 episodes I gave up. Just could not take to her at all. Something made me go back. Finally it all clicked into place. She clicked in to place. What a beautiful final series. The opening title sequence, the music, each and every character - nothing is wasted or overdone. Exquisite is the word that kept coming to mind. I think it was perfect.

thisoldcity · 05/03/2025 14:46

@BeetledBrow re. Nino and his father being evil characters, I agree, absolutely and I think even more so because there isn't a huge reaction, no punishment or revenge, they just continue on their way wrecking lives of those around them. Seeing Nino near the end on the TV pontificating about politics of whatever, is just so infuriating.

BeetledBrow · 05/03/2025 16:16

Yes!

The earthquake aftermath was almost comical in its awfulness. I just grabbed my kids and ran …

Also - I wish I remember how it happened in the book - but iirc in the adaptation the dreadful calamity that befalls Lila happens because she’s busy making eyes at Nino in the market and is distracted. Even though she claims to judge him harshly. … The thought of it makes my heart so despondent.

The way both women’s children turned on/against their respective mothers was just the bitterest punishment for simply doing your best to survive.

Deep. Very deep …

Cathymaker · 05/03/2025 17:54

thisoldcity · 05/03/2025 14:46

@BeetledBrow re. Nino and his father being evil characters, I agree, absolutely and I think even more so because there isn't a huge reaction, no punishment or revenge, they just continue on their way wrecking lives of those around them. Seeing Nino near the end on the TV pontificating about politics of whatever, is just so infuriating.

But Nino's downfall came in the end. Or did I miss something?

BeetledBrow · 05/03/2025 18:12

There was a downfall - but I forget the chronology and exactly where he was by the very end of the story.

thisoldcity · 05/03/2025 18:44

Yes actually I think you're right about Nino - I must go back and watch that again. Was it some sort of career disgrace in the end? I suppose I meant that the women in his life don't get any sort of resolution and he never seems to see the wrong he's done.

Cathymaker · 05/03/2025 19:21

BeetledBrow · 05/03/2025 18:12

There was a downfall - but I forget the chronology and exactly where he was by the very end of the story.

On TV being arrested for corruption is last I saw of him. I sincerely hope he didn't rise from the ashes. If he did, I'm glad I missed it! Such vanity, in him and his dad.

Cathymaker · 05/03/2025 23:07

Arrested for corruption but you're right, where the women were concerned there was no real resolution. He and his father cut from the same cloth. Awful men.

thatone · 14/04/2025 18:05

I found it hard to be interested in the Lenu/Nino business - and her utter devotion to him but did persevere with the episodes even though they were quite slow.

I had read the books so knew what would happen to Tina and I skipped the episodes where she disappeared - may go back to watch those.

The ending and the disappearance of Lila and then the arrival of the dolls was just so heartbreaking. Lila's life was so hard to fathom - all the pain she endured,no wonder she could not bear it. I thought Gaia Girace was amazing - so beautiful, vulnerable but also so strong and confident.

I found all the opening sequences and the music so beautifully done - and the theme of people always running was really interesting.

Cathymaker · 15/04/2025 08:15

thatone · 14/04/2025 18:05

I found it hard to be interested in the Lenu/Nino business - and her utter devotion to him but did persevere with the episodes even though they were quite slow.

I had read the books so knew what would happen to Tina and I skipped the episodes where she disappeared - may go back to watch those.

The ending and the disappearance of Lila and then the arrival of the dolls was just so heartbreaking. Lila's life was so hard to fathom - all the pain she endured,no wonder she could not bear it. I thought Gaia Girace was amazing - so beautiful, vulnerable but also so strong and confident.

I found all the opening sequences and the music so beautifully done - and the theme of people always running was really interesting.

It was beautiful. Opening titles and music throughout and beautifully shot. A rare thing.