'My Brilliant Friend': HBO's latest take on women's friendship has passed the Bechdel Test with flying colors
When Lena Dunham's 'Girls' aired its finale episode, it was established as the show which has helped give rise to ensemble female-lead tv shows. Amid Hannah's claim to her parents that she desired to be the "voice of my generation or at least the voice of a generation", 'Girls' gave an underlining look into what female friendship comprises of, and to be honest it had not told the whole story. Fortunately, HBO's adaptation of the first book, 'My Brilliant Friend', from Elena Ferrante's four-part Neapolitan novel series has succeeded in depicting female friendship in quite a broad manner.
The story follows the plight of two young girls whose friendship is put to test not just by the feud in the neighborhood between the rich and the poor, but by also how the brilliance of one friend is perceived as a threat to the intellect by the other friend. Starring Margherita Mazzucco (as Elena/Lenu) and Gaia Girace (as Raffaella/Lila), the Saverio Costanzo-created show is set against the dangerous but fascinating Naples, Italy, in the 1950s. Lenu and Lila are growing up in a dilapidated neighborhood of a post-World War II Berlin, and the story revolves around the two girls living as one entity but holding two extremely distinct perspectives towards life.