My Brilliant Friend (L'amica geniale)

Why did I never tell Lila what I felt for Nino?

Why did I never shout out to her the pain she caused me?

Why did I never reveal that, before kissing her,

Nino had kissed me?

Shall we go, then?

I don't know, I'm tired.

Me too, I couldn't sleep.

Did Lila say anything to you?

About what?

Well, I'll tell you.

Yesterday I kissed her.

But she's married!

- Why did she marry someone like him? - Because she was in love.

I don't believe it.

She did it for money, to help her family.

To set herself up.

If that's the case she could have married Marcello Solara.

Who's that?

A guy with much more money than Stefano and who was mad about her.

- And her? - She didn't want him.

Do you think things are going well between them?

With Lila things never go well.

What do you mean?

Nino...

If you don't want to suffer worse than you already are,

don't expect anything.

Lila grows cruel when surrounded by affection and respect.

She's always been like that.

You're back.

What's happened?

Pinuccia has gone to Naples.

She yelled that if Rino doesn't want her at home

then he doesn't love her as much as he did.

And so she'd rather die with the baby.

She left with Rino and Stefano.

My poor son...

I'm sorry. I had no idea.

I'll go wash, I'll be right back.

You realize why she wanted to go?

Because she wanted to be with her husband.

She got scared of her feelings.

- She's fallen in love with Bruno. - Pinuccia?

And him?

- He didn't even notice. - Are you sure?

Bruno has his eye on you.

Don't be silly!

Nino told me.

He didn't say anything to me today.

- Did you swim? - We did.

And then? What did you talk about?

A bit of everything.

Even about the thing I told you?

- What thing? - The kiss.

No, he didn't say anything.

Better that way.

I don't want to see him again.

Although dazed, I managed not to say the wrong words.

Nino only wanted to know about Lila and Lila about Nino.

I was consoled by an idea of centrality,

both needed me and I would stay in the middle.

Lenù!

Elena!

I'm here.

I'm here.

Hi, Lenù.

We found her!

Hi.

Why didn't you come to the beach? We waited for you all day.

We had things to do.

Did you know Pinuccia has left?

What a pity we didn't even say goodbye.

- She returned to Naples... - Let's go out tonight.

We'll come pick you up and bring you home.

Lila's mother's here.

We can't leave her alone.

Hi.

Hi.

Shall we go out tonight?

We'll come and pick you up and bring you back home.

There's no need.

We have to go to Forio anyway, I have to call my husband.

We could get ice cream.

All right. See you later.

- Bye, Lenù. - Bye.

I'm really glad, Lenù.

Bye.

Why did you say yes? You said you didn't want to see him anymore.

Of course I said yes, I have to call Stefano.

What would it look like if we ran into them?

Ran into who?

No one.

I have to call Stefano from the bar.

- Then I'll come too. - What are you coming for?

I want to get out a bit.

Bruno...

- Soccavo. - Ah, Soccavo...

As in the salami factory in San Giovanni a Teduccio?

He's my father actually.

And how's business?

Good, thank God, but I'm not involved that much.

My husband has recently started making shoes.

Mamma.

What did I say?

Pardon?

Are we all having ice cream?

- Yes. - Not me, thanks.

Do it for me, a small cup, just a taste.

All right, a small one.

We'd like four regular cups and a small one.

And some water, if possible. Thank you.

Nino, how's your mother?

Well, she's here on vacation too.

And your father?

I remember when they took you around in a pram.

- Really? - Of course.

Excuse me, I'm going to make my call.

I knew your grandfather too.

God rest his soul.

He got that house after the war.

And now a romantic dance.

If you'll excuse me.

He hasn't gone to pay, has he? I'm the oldest, it's up to me.

No, it's on me, as if I'd let a lady pay!

Very well, thank you.

Good evening, may I?

- May I have the honor of this dance? - Who, me?

Maybe you're mistaken.

Please, humor me.

No, I'm sorry. I can't.

Too bad.

Lenù, is he still looking?

Yes.

He's in love, Cupid has fired his arrows.

Yeah, Cupid...

Cupid!

Please, go and call Lila.

It's all melting here.

Excuse me, the phone?

The booths are at the back.

Thank you.

Lila...

Sorry.

Careful, miss.

The lively conversations faded to distracted sentences,

seeking the way to more private words.

I suffered, but I must admit, with an underlying sense of disbelief

that made the suffering come in waves.

Let's go for a swim.

No, I don't feel like it.

Let's go get some coconut.

- What if someone sees them? - There's no one who can see them.

Leave them be.

Would you care for a cedrata at least?

No.

I saw them as fallen divinities.

Once so clever, so intelligent,

now so stupid, caught up in a stupid game.

Thank you, good night everybody.

What are you going to do when you finish school?

I haven't thought about it.

I'll find a job.

- What would you like to do? - I don't know.

- Why, do you know? - For now I'm at university.

And so?

I have time to think about it.

It's easy for you, you can always work for your father.

Yes, but I'm studying so I can have other opportunities.

You're doing the right thing.

Besides, I wouldn't mind working for my father,

I'd be working in the office, in administration,

not with the workers making sausages.

Is it that interesting?

Yes, but it's stuff that doesn't concern you.

Come on, speak, tell us what it is.

A letter.

- From whom? - From Nadia.

Listen to this.

"When I eat chocolate ice cream, I miss you.

When I hear 'Si è spento il sole' on the radio, I miss you.

When I smell your scent on the shirt you left me, I miss you.

I always miss you.

Night and day."

That's enough, give it back to him.

You're embarrassed, huh?

It's your fault.

How can your girlfriend write this stuff?

When you fall in love with someone,

you don't ask her if she knows how to write a love letter.

Do you love her?

Why?

Because she lives on Corso Vittorio Emanuele?

In a house full of books and old paintings?

Because she's a teacher's daughter?

Enough, give me those pages.

I'll only give them to you if you tear them up in front of us.

And then?

And then we'll all write a letter together

where you say you're leaving her

and we'll post it tonight.

All right.