by Dov Kornits
Andrew Bovell is one of this country’s treasures, writing plays and screenplays (Edge of Darkness, A Most Wanted Man), and it looks like the rest of the world has finally caught up, with news that Amazon Studios has snapped up the series adaptation of his Australia, US and UK staged play Things I Know To Be True, to be produced by Nicole Kidman’s production company Blossom Films, Matchbox Pictures and Jan Chapman Films.
“This is a story about family, that thing you spend your life trying to escape from only to yearn for what you’ve lost if you ever do,” said Bovell in a press release. “I’m thrilled that an actor of Nicole Kidman’s calibre leads the series in the role of Fran Price. As a mother and a woman she is complicated, difficult and utterly compelling. I’m also thrilled that a company of Amazon Studios’ significance has shown such confidence in the story and will take it to a global audience.”
Things I Know To Be True follows Bob (played by Paul Blackwell and Tony Martin, among others, in Australian productions) and Fran Price (played by Eugenia Fragos and Helen Thomson, among others in local productions) and their 4 grown children, delving into the evolving nature of a family’s love.
“I’ll never forget the experience I had watching Andrew’s play in Sydney, having one of those transcendent theater experiences. Andrew’s play is exquisite and his scripts for the series are just as good. With Amazon’s belief, Jen Salke’s guidance, and an extraordinary producing team, we have big hopes for what this can be.”
“Thing I Know To Be True is a wonderfully complex and intense emotional journey exploring what pulls a family apart and tests the very bonds of love that unite them,” said Jennifer Salke, Head of Amazon Studios. “We are grateful to Andrew and to our partners for landing this on Prime Video.”
“A family is a tyranny ruled by its weakest member.” George Bernard Shaw nailed the truth with this quote, and no better example is the narcissistic family.
The Narcissistic Family Playbill
The narcissistic family can be understood as a play with characters that serve the lead—the demanding and reactive narcissist (usually a parent). Narcissists’ most basic need is to protect themselves from an unresolved and destabilizing sense of inadequacy established in early childhood, which they attempt to do by adopting a grandiose persona, which may be overtly or covertly expressed.