Ferrante Fever

I gotta admit that I havent read any of her work so far but I was intrigued by this persona that kept to herself and made a career without ever revealing her (or his) identity.

The author decided that it was their work that will be the sole and only factor that will contribute to their success. An oh boy, did she succeed! The way people talk about her work is frantic, in shock even. Her success is global, but all her work is Italian. Exploring the cities, but above all characters. Friendship, spouses, doubts.

Although I would have enjoyed having heard some critics of her work, people who were not as impressed as most of the world but I suppose that was not in plans for this movie. Nevertheless, worth watching.

7 out of 10 from me.

Greetings again from the darkness. "I publish to be read." Those are the words of Elena Ferrante, an Italian writer who is committed to having her work speak for itself. She has eschewed the celebrity status that typically accompanies best-selling authors. Where previously we have been intrigued by recluses like JD Salinger, Harper Lee, or even Howard Hughes, it's rare (unprecedented?) that we are speaking of absolute anonymity. With no public face whatsoever behind the pen name of so many successful books, director Giacomo Durzi flirts with the question, is it the mystery of the author or the author's work that drives interest?

It's somewhat ironic that a film focused on an author so adamant about avoiding the spotlight opens with a quote from one of the most recognizable names and voices on the planet. Hillary Clinton describes Ferrante's writing as "hypnotic", and claims to ration her time for reading the books. Of course when one chooses not to talk about their work, it leaves others to do so. Director Durzi serves up a lineup of editors and writers, plus a researcher/scholar and the translator of Ferrante's all-Italian writing. We learn that the fuse of globalization for Ms. Ferrante's work was lit by James Wood and his review in "The New Yorker". This global literary phenomenon exploded from there. Insight from writers Jonathan Franzen, Roberto Saviano, and Elizabeth Strout help us understand how these books have been so influential, impacting so many readers. A segment on the Italian Strega Prize for literature is fascinating, as it becomes clear that even her home country doesn't know how to handle her success.

Translator Ann Goldstein is interviewed, and even jokes about how unusual it is for a translator to become part of the story ... another example of how Ferrante's anonymity changes things. Ms. Goldstein is unapologetically a fan of the work and seems anxious to continue. Ms. Ferrante's own words drawn from her letters in "Frantumaglia" hover over the film as narration, but that's as close as we get to the real person.

Time Magazine lists her as one of the 100 most influential personalities, which is kind of funny since we don't know her personality other than through her writing. Durzi's film is not a search for the person or a quest to uncover the author's identity, as it's more of an exploration of the popularity and impact of her work. We can't help but wonder if other writers are more envious of her writing ability or of her ability to remain anonymous. Typically the former destroys any hope of the latter ... but not with Ferrante.

I'll be honest and admit I had never heard of Italian author Elena Ferrante (a pseudonym) nor read any of her novels. This brief documentary, only 1 hr. and 14 min. focuses on her 4 books known as the Neapolitan Novels, which have become a global sensation, with sales of over 10 million copies in more than 50 countries.

Of course, it is highly intriguing that Ferrante has kept complete anonymity over many years and no one has been able to conclusively prove who she is. She has refused to promote her novels in any way, nor has she given interviews to the media. Ferrante has published La Frantumaglia, which is a work of essays, letters, and written interviews that give some insight into her thinking and perspectives.

Despite not having read her works, I still found the film to be quite interesting, even fascinating at times. I love movies but, as a rule, I'm not a fiction reader, but this doc sure sparked my interest enough to perhaps, at least, try the first novel and see how I like it.

I think the criticisms of reviewers that the movie is too one-sided in praise of Ferrante and offers virtually no counters to all the enthusiasm of the interviewees is valid. However, I still found the doc quite engrossing and I like learning about things that I was not aware of beforehand.