BIG LITTLE LIES — TV SHOW OF SPRING 2017
In the weeks preceeding the premier of Little Big Lies, I had a feeling I was bombarded with heavy-loaded promotion of these HBO mini series wherever and whenever it was possible; from women magazines, huge billboards down the highway to conversations overheard in the subway. Because of all the above and the pantheon of the Hollywood shining stars, I was reluctant to jump on this wagon of a new TV addiction. However, as last week flu got me down with its merciless iron fists, I had no other choice but to entertain myself through it and my personal way to do it was to finally watch Little Big Lies, four episodes in a row. Few minutes in, I started feeling like an inhabitant of the lusciously luxurious community of Monterey, which apparently in real life is more of a touristy, sleepy, little town.
In the first two episodes I had a lot of reservations as it felt a bit like unconsciously I might have become a follower of a desperate house wives club meeting the twilight zone. Fortunately, it got enjoyably darker and darker with every little story unfolding. During the orientation day of the offsprings of those polished, perfect and beautiful parents, we are introduced to all of the women who matter in the show. There is beautiful and serene Celeste (Nicole Kidman) with her award-winning instagram-perfect boy twins. Then, Madeline (Reese Witherspoon) steals the show. Her former cheer-leader vibrant and agitating personality is so contagious as she pairs it with genuine friendship as well as hatred towards other people. Her daughter Chloe always has a matching I-tunes playlist at hand, whenever there is an emotional crisis in the air. Next in line is Renata (Laura Dern), in her made-to-measure, perfectly fitted corporate clothes, exuding the air of Paypal corporate highness contrasted with her quietly invisible daughter Amabelle being bullied on that very day. Now, to avoid the cookie-cutter sweetness of this American idyll , we meet a real time outsider Jane, with no money and a shady, unknown past accompanying her son Ziggy. Finally, there is Bonnie (Zoe Kravitz), yoga teacher, a sensual dancer, second wife of Madeline’s ex who has the moves like a feminine version of Jagger (one of my favorite dance scenes in the show) With a combo of genes from her father, Lenny Kravitz and her mother Lisa Bonet, Zoe is a true California free-spirit.
Men in Little Big lies, despite their exterior charm and undeniable ability to make a high-standard living are scarred and troublesome. As Celeste’ s husband who beats her up regularly confesses in the therapy room: “I am afraid of losing her, that she will outgrow me, figure me out and will not love me anymore.” Most of the men seem to be afraid of that faith and are struggling their best to either avoid it or bring on whatever is unavoidable even faster. Don’t get me wrong all those men and women at times deserve each other. As it is a TV show everything grows dramatically out of proportion.
There is vengeance, hatred, threats, romance, cheating, strange fetishes, suppressed anger and there are so many reasons to kill and be killed. Flashback and flash-forwards with police interrogations of community members reveal only one fact somebody died and it was not pretty.
In one of her interviews, Reese Witherspoon said: “I think there’s something fascinating about a person who projects perfection or is very judgemental of others… [they’re] clearly just swimming in their own discontentment.” The characters of Little Big Lies are definately trying to stay on the surface of their big ocean of disappointments and that is what makes the show so addictive. Continuity with no cuts using hand-held camera brings back the reality show vibe but there is so much class in it. Everyone fits their role like a perfect glove fits the hand. Those lies are served in such elegant manner that I can’t wait what the next episode will bring.
