Venice Film Festival Day 6: HBO's 'My Brilliant Friend' Premieres

On the sixth day of the 75th Venice Film Festival, the first two episodes of HBO's series 'L'amica geniale' (My Brilliant Friend), based on Elena Ferrante's bestseller and directed by Saverio Costanzo, premiered. Paolo Sorrentino served as producer, continuing Venice's tradition of previewing TV series, started with Sorrentino's 'The Young Pope'. The presence of HBO and Netflix distinguishes Venice from Cannes, which bans selfies and major streaming platforms. Costanzo's work was praised for its impeccable quality, surpassing typical Italian fiction except for 'Gomorrah'. Child actresses Elisa del Genio and Ludovica Nasti were lauded for their spontaneous performances. The series was noted for its political and civil relevance, emphasizing female intelligence and tenacity, and signaling a new literary trend. Later, Willem Dafoe and Julian Schnabel walked the red carpet in jacket and pajamas. The competition film 'Acusada' by Gonzalo Tobal premiered at Sala Darsena, starring Lali Esposito as Dolores, accused of murdering her best friend. The film critiques media sensationalism and the blurring of legal and popular judgment, structured as a thriller with twists. Despite some TV-like direction, it keeps viewers engaged.