‘Sex fest’ will spark up Conversations
THE highly anticipated adaptation of Sally Rooney’s debut novel Conversations With Friends hits screens in Ireland this week, with insiders labelling it ‘another sex fest’.
The TV show is set to delight fans of the book and lockdown-era hit Normal People, with a string of steamy scenes.
Director Lenny Abrahamson has told friends he’s not worried about unfavourable comparisons with his last smash hit – Normal People.
‘He’s very confident he has another winner on his hands and, yes, it will another sex fest,’ joked an insider who has seen the whole series.
At a preview screening of the first two episodes, there was not as much on show as might be expected.
Fans can expect characters’ passions to run hot as the series unfolds, with writer Edel Coffey describing the plot as ‘a love parallelogram with a friendship in there as well’.
It follows best friends and exlovers Frances, played by Cork newcomer Alison Oliver, and Bobbi, played by American actor Sasha Lane, as they navigate their obsession with a married couple.
Joe Alwyn, boyfriend and rumoured fiancé of Taylor Swift, takes over from Paul Mescal playing the moody male love interest, married to writer Melissa, played by Jemima Kirke.
Intimacy choreographer Ita O’Brien was rehired by Element Pictures to ensure sex scenes were ‘safe’ and the actors were ‘comfortable’ during filming.
Abrahamson said he could not face letting another director take on the adaptation. ‘It was delightful to make because the material is strong. Sally has the ability to use simple sentences and bring the audience to an emotionally complex place.’
Conversations With Friends airs on BBC Three and Hulu today, and starts on RTÉ and the RTÉ Player on Wednesday, with two half-hour episodes airing back to back each week at 9.35pm.