My Brilliant Friend (L'amica geniale)

Go with the kiss!

Kiss!

Don't overdo it, though.

Look at her belly! How many months are you?

- Lila, what are you doing? - She's out of her mind!

Where did she get her manners?

What did she do?

Nothing happened, keep playing!

It's nothing.

I'm sorry, madam.

She's so rude.

- What happened? - I don't know how he puts up with her.

What happened?

That lady lifted Pinuccia's dress to show her big thighs

and said to Stefano: "Look what fine thighs your sister has, what a belly!

Women today look like broomsticks,

whereas those like her are made to bear children."

And Lila?

And Lila threw her wine at her.

I know why she's acting like this.

We all know,

but that's not a good reason to make him look bad.

Why?

They had her examined.

- Who? - Stefano, his parents.

They want to know how come she only got pregnant once.

Everything seems to be in order.

The doctor said she only needs to get stronger.

"Get stronger," that's what he said.

It meant that Lila, despite the strength she manifested at all times,

was weak.

It meant that children didn't come to her

not because she possessed some mysterious power,

but because, on the contrary, she was fragile.

My resentment died down.

Lila.

Lenù.

Why did you throw wine at her?

- They told me you went to the doctor. - Yes.

How did it go?

He poked around inside me with a metal thing.

I gave him a lot of money only to find out I need to get stronger.

I have to go swimming in the sea.

They say if you swim in the sea you get stronger and children come.

Stefano wants to rent a house in Torre Annunziata.

He wants me to go with my mother and Pinuccia for two months.

It could be worse, I'm working all summer.

Two months with my mother and Pinuccia, I'll kill myself.

Don't say that. Go swimming, get some sun.

If I could get stronger in your place I'd go tomorrow.

Then come with me.

I can't, I have to work at the bookstore.

Quit.

I'll pay you what the bookseller does.

Don't be silly! My mother would never let me.

I'll take care of your mother.

All right.

But let's go to Ischia where I've already been,

that way my mother won't worry so much.

Gee, it's hot!

I can't wait to get in the water.

Come on, get going!

- I can't walk anymore. - It's not far.

You already said that twice. Look at my swollen ankles.

We're nearly there.

If we're nearly there, let's stop here.

It's nicer there, trust me.

No, okay, let's stop here.

Lenù!

Who's that?

- What a surprise! - Good morning, how are you?

Well! I'll help you.

- No, don't worry. - I wouldn't dream of it.

What a surprise!

Come and say hello to my wife.

Lidia!

Look!

They were girls, look what lovely young ladies they are now.

I didn't think I'd see you.

Nella didn't tell us.

We're vacationing in Cuotto and we came for a walk down here.

Walking under the sun, I can't take anymore.

Then get undressed and go for a swim.

Kids! Look who's here.

Hi, Lenù!

Come for a swim with us.

Leave Lenù alone. You go for a swim, then we'll eat.

You're so pretty, Lenù.

I'm so happy to see you.

Sit next to me, so you can tell me everything.

School?

Good, I passed.

You're so modest! Who knows what grades you got!

Marisa has to repeat four subjects.

As punishment she stayed with her aunt and uncle.

She has private lessons almost every day.

Some subjects are hard to get the hang of.

You're too kind, the truth is that Marisa's a shirker.

Don't worry about Marisa, if need be, I'll help her.

No, in that case, there's Nino, too, he's clever like you.

- Where is he now? - Here he is.

Maybe you wanted to go for a swim and I'm keeping you here.

Don't worry, I haven't seen you for a long time.

Sure?

What are you doing here?

Hi.

I came to visit Signora Nella.

Isn't that Lila?

Yes, and that's Pinuccia, her sister-in-law.

I don't know if you remember her.

We've rented a house at Cuotto,

we're staying until early September.

Nunzia, Lila's mother, came with us.

How is she? I haven't seen her for ages.

The husbands come on the weekends.

Come to the beach at Citara some time.

This is the address I'm staying at.

In Forio.

It's not hard, it's a big white house with an angel on top.

- I have to go. - Already?

- I have to study. - Eat something first.

Bye, Lenù. Bye, Mamma.

Bye...

Can you float?

So, now go from here to there.

Take care, the lady's pregnant.

I'll carry her like a princess.

Holy mother!

Go slowly!

You'll come back to visit?

Promise me?

Lenù!

You're sneaky.

You made us come just so you could see Nino.

Whatever do you mean?

Confess.

You like him.

If it's true, you really are selfish.

All this effort just to see a guy?

But you had fun, didn't you?

We did, but Nino didn't give you much encouragement.

That's how he is, he had to study.

How he is... is bad. He's as rude as his father is nice.

His father has the manners of a gentleman,

he even taught me how to swim.

He's great.

He wrote that the panel at Piazza dei Martiri was ugly.

He was right.

Have you forgotten? He was the one who ruined Melina.

Or maybe,

he made her feel good for once.

Nino gave me his address.

When Stefano and Rino come I'll go visit him, do you mind?

Hear that? Lenù has a date!

She's even got the address!

When your husbands come, what am I supposed to do?

You know what you can do?

Keep my mother company.

I didn't bring you here to have fun.

Boss! How much longer?

I'm getting nauseous.

Ten minutes and we're there, ma'am.

I held back from saying anything.

"Cut your tongue out and don't provoke her," I thought.

After all, I had obtained what I wanted.

- I can't do it! - Keep still.

Then tell me what I have to do!

Put your head back. Put it back or you won't float.

But like this I'll drown.

I'm holding you up.

- Don't take your hand away. - I won't take it away.

Close your mouth, or you'll take in water.

Good, that's it.

There they are!

Nino!

Lenù!

You've organized your day very well: you study and I cook and shop.

Why, can you see me cooking?

- Why me and not you? - You're better at it.

If you don't like it, take me out to eat.

Wouldn't you like that?

Bruno's a catch, his father owns the Soccavo salami factory.

Is anyone hungry, thirsty?

Maybe something cool.

- Let's go get coconut. - Shall we go, Lenù?

You wanted to take a walk.

No, maybe I'll join you later.

If you like, I'll bring it.

No, I'll come with you.

Wouldn't want the baby to be born craving coconut.

Lenù, sit here.

Bruno's kind.

You can tell he comes from a good family.

I wouldn't know.

I don't trust people who do business in this region.

Naples, Ischia, the whole of Campania

is in the hands of the worst people who think they're the best.

They're predators, destroyers, bloodsuckers.

People who've raked in the money but don't even pay taxes.

And the builders, the Camorrists' lawyers,