Normal People (2020)

Written by Sally Rooney (from her novel), Alice Birch and Mark O'Rowe, and directed by Room's Lenny Abrahamson and Hettie Macdonald (six half hours each). Stylistically it reminds me of a Drake Doremus, who created a slow intimate style which worked so well in Breathe In but not so well in Like Crazy. This unfortunately falls into the second film's category - it's slow and not easy to watch - seems like it takes forever. (When you strip it down, it's two 'normal' people talking and fucking.)

Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal are the young lovers, frequently in close up, often not saying a lot. The sex scenes feel more intimate than most. They're both frustrating characters, he because he keeps hiding his feelings in broad daylight, and she because she looks like she's going to kill you with a bread knife at any given moment. Her's is unquestionably a fucked up family.

Chapter in Italy is uncomfortable. Ep 10 is particularly downbeat as he becomes depressed following his mate's suicide - they didn't seem close, so it's puzzling - and revealing he doesn't fit in - she's still in Sweden following relationship with another dodgy bloke. Also I'm beginning to be distracted by that little 'um' Mescal keeps doing.

With Sarah Greene, Aislin McGuckin, Desmond Eastwood, India Mullen, Sebastian de Souza. Photographed by Suzie Lavelle (first six), Kate McCullough.

Two actors getting to know each other

It feels honest, anyway, and I have a feeling that the situations and emotions on display would have resonated with many people.