Trigger Warning: This article contains mentions of suicide. Reader discretion is advised.
My Brilliant Friend is an intense Italian drama airing on HBO Max and has a near-perfect rating of 97% on Rotten Tomatoes. Bruno Orlando and Stefano Dionisi portrayed Franco Mari at various points in the show. The final season of My Brilliant Friend didn’t have a happy ending for Franco, as fans were left flabbergasted.
Franco was beside Lenu and her daughters when Nino barged in after three months of no contact. Naturally upset, she tries shutting him out but decides to give him a chance despite his infidelity.
He attempted to convince her to take him back while he was still with Eleonora since she was 7 months pregnant. Crushed at the revelation about the timeline of her friend’s pregnancy, the scene quickly turns ugly.
Franco merely observed initially but had to intervene shortly after things got blown out of proportion. During a heated exchange between Nino and Lenu, Franco suggested that perhaps Nino’s painful truths were his love language and that Lenu should accept it. Enraged, Lenu lashed out at Franco with a scathing remark, causing him to recoil in dismay.
It was a regular evening between Lenu and her daughters Dede and Elsa. The trio appeared to be engaging in a casual conversation when a sullen Franco walked in. Little did anyone know it was the last time they’d ever hear from him.
Before heading off to his room, Franco had a final piece of advice for Lenu. With a sad glance, he remarked:
“In love, it’s only over once you can become yourself again, without the fear or disgust.”
Although Franco intended the message for Lenu, he was actually referring to himself. Franco was presumably torn about her traumatic past, and the assault he had endured. This may have been too much for him, but with Nino appearing, it was perhaps the last straw for him.
In the end, Lenu’s daughters informed their mother about a suspicious note found on Franco’s door instructing her to keep the girls out of the room. Naturally concerned, she ensured they were far away and walked in only to find a disturbing scene.
Franco had committed suicide. Both his wrists were slit, he was unresponsive and in a pool of his own blood. Thus concluded the tale of Franco Mari in My Brilliant Friend.
Who is Franco Mari in My Brilliant Friend?
Franco Mari in My Brilliant Friend was known to be an extrovert in the early seasons of the show. He knew the rest of the group via Lenu. He went on to meet the first love of his life Elena. The duo had quite a romance until infatuation with Nino struck her.
Despite the messy friendships, Franco earnestly desired to be a shoulder to cry on, especially for Lenu after enduring an unfathomable trauma. In the previous seasons of My Brilliant Friend, Franco was brutalized by a band of friends rendering him blind for the rest of his life. Lenu being the kind soul she was, eventually agreed to live with him along with her daughters.
Who are the actors who play Franco Mari in My Brilliant Friend?
My Brilliant Friend saw a significant time jump after Season 3. Between Seasons 1-3, it was Bruno Orlando who played Franco Mari, and his role was continued by Stefano Dionisi for Season 4. Orlando is a budding Italian actor whose noteworthy projects include Frontiera, Romantic Guide to Lost Places, and Trust.
Stefano Dionisi on the other hand is a veteran and has appeared in an array of shows and movies in the Italian cinema. Some of his remarkable work in shows apart from My Brilliant Friend include Anti-Drug Squad, The Promised Life, and Without Family.
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You can binge Seasons 1-4 of My Brilliant Friend on HBO Max.
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