Review – Normal People (2020) directed by Lenny Abrahamson and Hettie Macdonald, written by Sally Rooney and Alice Birch.

Finished on February 13th, 2024
Rating: 5/5 Stars

I mean, what do I even say about this? As someone who came fresh off of finishing the book about a month ago (someone who absolutely adored the book), I was so incredibly eager to see something so personal to me realized and adapted on film. Not only that, but having heard that this adaptation was incredibly well done set my expectations pretty high. I was also super happy about this being a TV mini series; as someone who recently started reading books again, too often does it feel like book adaptations jump straight to the feature film when a longer more methodical television show would do it more justice. Luckily, with streaming on the rise and TV more popular than ever, perhaps we'll see more decisions for books adapted in the format that it makes the most sense for, rather than defaulting to film.

And not only as an adaptation, but on its own, this TV soars and is beyond riveting and emotionally engrossing. As a result of just reading the book, it was incredibly fulfilling to see direct quotes and scenes leap off the page, directly reflected on film as it would be read. It was actually a bit surreal at first; it was just wild to see these only imagined character suddenly realized, reciting lines you recognized on paper. This is obviously not the first filmed thing I’ve seen where I read the book first, but for some reason this one felt so much more surreal seeing characters I knew from the book suddenly alive on screen. How unbelievable it must be to be a writer and have your characters realized through film. Anyways, not only did the recognition of the book’s writing enhance the experience, but it made for a more satisfying watch as a reader in love with the source material. 

While initially hesitant and skeptical, I fell in love with the visual style of this series. Through brilliantly focused cinematography composed of beautifully remarkable close ups, incredibly shallow depth of field with blurry backgrounds, and some truly touching montages paired with heart-wrenching music, this TV show felt unbelievably intimate simply through its visual storytelling. I was worried about how they'd tackle the inner thoughts and descriptions between both characters on film, yet the cinematography does so much of that work so well.

The rest of it comes from these actors, and I'm still shocked at how remarkable the two of them are. Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones. Have I ever seen actors with more chemistry than them?? Undoubtedly par with some of the greatest acting pairs in cinematic history, as naive as it may be to say. They just manage to communicate with each other so well not only through dialogue but between the lines as well; their eyes convey so much. They're also just immensely impressive in this show. The performances are outstanding and they truly put their all into these roles, never holding back despite how graphically intimate the story required them to be. Any love I already had for Paul Mescal is unbelievably enhanced and heightened after watching this. And Daisy Edgar-Jones is now an actress who'll get me to watch anything she's in.

I found the depiction of sex to be very well done. It's graphic, it's apparent, it's bold, and it's not done in a way that hides or sugarcoats. Mainly due to the cinematography but also the actors, these sex scenes always convey the intended feeling each time. Sometimes, it's incredibly intimate in a tender and passionate way, absent of eroticism or with no intention to arouse. Sometimes, it feels anxiety-inducing, intense, or troubling. Though again, it never feels like it's done in a way meant to turn sex into spectacle or a turn-on for the viewer. It fits really well for the tone and themes of the story too.

Like the book, the story resonates with me in so many ways. It's just so compelling, with beautifully complex characters who are raw and imperfect. This is something I'd revisit time and time again, coming back when needed to learn lessons and experience life with Marianne and Connell. I hope they're doing well :')

Check out the original review posted on Letterboxd here.