Little White Lies: Normal People faithfully captures the intensity of Sally Rooney’s novel
There is a sexual element to the connection between the central characters, and it is in these moments of intense intimacy that the pair appears to speak a language no one else understands. Sex is a big part of the book, as Rooney captures a yearning that stems not only from lust but the desire to be seen.
All pretence is shed along with their clothes, with Lenny Abrahamson (who directed the first six episodes) setting the tone by conveying a transformative act via tight close-ups and lingering looks. Laying themselves bare in every sense of the word, the post-coital soul sharing is just as revelatory. In a move that is thankfully becoming more common, an intimacy coordinator worked with the young actors, and the results speak for themselves.