My Brilliant Friend
Genre
Created bySaverio Costanzo
Based onNeapolitan Novels
by Elena Ferrante
Written by
Directed by
Starring
  • Elisa Del Genio
  • Ludovica Nasti
  • Anna Rita Vitolo
  • Luca Gallone
  • Imma Villa
  • Antonio Milo
  • Alessio Gallo
  • Valentina Acca
  • Antonio Buonanno
  • Dora Romano
  • Antonio Pennarella
  • Nunzia Schiano
  • Gaia Girace
  • Margherita Mazzucco
  • Giovanni Amura
  • Gennaro De Stefano
  • Francesco Serpico
  • Federica Sollazzo
  • Clotilde Sabatino
  • Ulrike Migliaresi
  • Christian Giroso
  • Eduardo Scarpetta
  • Giovanni Buselli
  • Giovanni Cannata
  • Francesco Russo
  • Bruno Orlando
  • Daria Deflorian
  • Matteo Cecchi
Narrated byAlba Rohrwacher
ComposerMax Richter
Country of origin
  • Italy
  • United States
Original languages
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes16 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
Producers
  • Luigi Marinello
  • Sara Polese
  • Laura Paolucci
Production locations
Cinematography
Editors
  • Francesca Calvelli
  • Carlotta Cristiani
Camera setupLuigi Andrei
Running time53–64 minutes
Production companies
Distributor
Release
Original network
First shown in
  • United States (s. 1)
  • Italy (s. 2)
Original releaseNovember 18, 2018 (2018-11-18) –
present (present)
External links
Website

My Brilliant Friend (Italian: L'amica geniale) is an Italian- and Neapolitan-language coming-of-age drama television series created by Saverio Costanzo for HBO, RAI and TIMvision. Named after the first of four novels in the Neapolitan Novels series by Elena Ferrante, it is set to adapt the entire literary work over four eight-episode seasons.[2] The series is a co-production between Italian production companies Wildside, Fandango, The Apartment, Mowe and international film group Umedia.

The first season premiered on HBO on November 18, 2018 and on Rai 1 and TIMvision on November 27, 2018.[3][4] A second season, based on Ferrante's second Neapolitan Novel and titled My Brilliant Friend: The Story of a New Name (Italian: L'amica geniale - Storia del nuovo cognome), was confirmed in December 2018,[5] and premiered on Rai 1 on February 10, 2020, and on HBO on March 16, 2020.[6][7] The first two episodes of the second season were released in Italian cinemas from January 27 to 29, 2020.[6]

On April 30, 2020, the series was renewed for a third season, to be based on the third novel in the series, Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay.[8]

Cast and characters

Main

Recurring

The Grecos
The Carraccis
The Pelusos
The Cappuccios
The Sarratores
The Scannos
The Solaras
The Spagnuolos
Others

Guests

Episodes

SeasonSubtitleEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
1—8November 18, 2018 (2018-11-18) (HBO)
November 27, 2018 (2018-11-27) (Rai 1)		December 10, 2018 (2018-12-10) (HBO)
December 18, 2018 (2018-12-18) (Rai 1)
2The Story of a New Name
Storia del nuovo cognome		8February 10, 2020 (2020-02-10) (Rai 1)
March 16, 2020 (2020-03-16) (HBO)		March 2, 2020 (2020-03-02) (Rai 1)
May 4, 2020 (2020-05-04) (HBO)

Season 1 (2018)

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateU.S./Italy viewers
(millions)
11"The Dolls"
"Le bambole"		Saverio CostanzoElena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci and Saverio CostanzoNovember 18, 2018 (2018-11-18) (HBO)
November 27, 2018 (2018-11-27) (Rai 1)		0.242[10] and 7.458[11]
22"The Money"
"I soldi"		Saverio CostanzoElena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci and Saverio CostanzoNovember 19, 2018 (2018-11-19) (HBO)
November 27, 2018 (2018-11-27) (Rai 1)		0.128[12] and 6.729[11]
33"Metamorphoses"[a]
"Le metamorfosi"		Saverio CostanzoElena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci and Saverio CostanzoNovember 25, 2018 (2018-11-25) (HBO)
December 4, 2018 (2018-12-04) (Rai 1)		0.244[13] and 7.302[14]
44"Dissolving Boundaries"[a]
"La smarginatura"		Saverio CostanzoElena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci and Saverio CostanzoNovember 26, 2018 (2018-11-26) (HBO)
December 4, 2018 (2018-12-04) (Rai 1)		0.151[15] and 6.725[14]
55"The Shoes"
"Le scarpe"		Saverio CostanzoElena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci and Saverio CostanzoDecember 2, 2018 (2018-12-02) (HBO)
December 11, 2018 (2018-12-11) (Rai 1)		0.291[16] and 6.699[17]
66"The Island"
"L'isola"		Saverio CostanzoElena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci and Saverio CostanzoDecember 3, 2018 (2018-12-03) (HBO)
December 11, 2018 (2018-12-11) (Rai 1)		0.210[18] and 6.699[17]
77"The Fiancés"
"I fidanzati"		Saverio CostanzoElena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci and Saverio CostanzoDecember 9, 2018 (2018-12-09) (HBO)
December 18, 2018 (2018-12-18) (Rai 1)		0.318[19] and 6.974[20]
88"The Promise"
"La promessa"		Saverio CostanzoElena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci and Saverio CostanzoDecember 10, 2018 (2018-12-10) (HBO)
December 18, 2018 (2018-12-18) (Rai 1)		0.228[21] and 6.620[20]
Notes
  1. ^ a b HBO listings translate the titles of episodes 3 and 4 as "The Metamorphoses" and "Dissolving Margins", respectively.

Season 2: The Story of a New Name (2020)

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateU.S./Italy viewers
(millions)
91"The New Name"
"Il nuovo cognome"		Saverio CostanzoElena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci and Saverio CostanzoFebruary 10, 2020 (2020-02-10) (Rai 1)
March 16, 2020 (2020-03-16) (HBO)		0.148[22] and 7.099[23]
102"The Body"
"Il corpo"		Saverio CostanzoElena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci and Saverio CostanzoFebruary 10, 2020 (2020-02-10) (Rai 1)
March 23, 2020 (2020-03-23) (HBO)		0.147[24] and 6.452[23]
113"Erasure"
"Scancellare"		Saverio CostanzoElena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci and Saverio CostanzoFebruary 17, 2020 (2020-02-17) (Rai 1)
March 30, 2020 (2020-03-30) (HBO)		0.120[25] and 6.842[26]
124"The Kiss"
"Il bacio"		Alice RohrwacherElena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci and Saverio CostanzoFebruary 17, 2020 (2020-02-17) (Rai 1)
April 6, 2020 (2020-04-06) (HBO)		0.141[27] and 6.235[26]
135"The Betrayal"
"Il tradimento"		Alice RohrwacherElena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci and Saverio CostanzoFebruary 24, 2020 (2020-02-24) (Rai 1)
April 13, 2020 (2020-04-13) (HBO)		0.196[28] and 6.585[29]
146"Rage"
"La rabbia"		Saverio CostanzoElena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci and Saverio CostanzoFebruary 24, 2020 (2020-02-24) (Rai 1)
April 20, 2020 (2020-04-20) (HBO)		0.134[30] and 6.053[29]
157"Ghosts"
"I fantasmi"		Saverio CostanzoElena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci and Saverio CostanzoMarch 2, 2020 (2020-03-02) (Rai 1)
April 27, 2020 (2020-04-27) (HBO)		0.159[31] and 7.110[32]
168"The Blue Fairy"
"La fata blu"		Saverio CostanzoElena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci and Saverio CostanzoMarch 2, 2020 (2020-03-02) (Rai 1)
May 4, 2020 (2020-05-04) (HBO)		0.130[33] and 6.757[32]

Production

Commissioned by Rai Fiction, HBO and TIMvision, the first season was produced by Italian production companies Wildside and Fandango and international film group Umedia.[3] TIMvision withdrew from the project after the first season,[34] while production companies The Apartment and Mowe joined production for the second season.[35]

On February 18, 2020, Gaia Girace announced that she will leave the series after playing Lila in three episodes of the third season, as a new and older actress will be cast for the following episodes.[36]

Music

The score of the series has been composed by Max Richter.

Season 1

My Brilliant Friend
(TV Series Soundtrack)
Soundtrack album by
Max Richter
ReleasedDecember 7, 2018 (2018-12-07)
GenreSoundtrack
Length36:15
LabelDeutsche Grammophon
Max Richter chronology
Mary Queen of Scots (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
(2018) 		My Brilliant Friend
(TV Series Soundtrack)
(2018) 		Ad Astra (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
(2019)
Singles from My Brilliant Friend
(TV Series Soundtrack)
  1. "Elena & Lila"
    Released: November 30, 2018

The soundtrack album for the first season was released by Deutsche Grammophon on December 7, 2018 for digital download.[37] It was preceded by the release of the single "Elena & Lila" on November 30, 2018.

Track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Elena & Lila"4:53
2."Whispers"3:41
3."Your Reflection"3:35
4."The Days Go By"2:43
5."Interior Dialogues"1:37
6."In the Dark"2:30
7."In Spite of All"2:10
8."Brilliant Clouds"1:11
9."In Remembrance of You"4:57
10."Shimmering Clouds"1:15
11."She Was Running"2:08
12."Our Reflection"5:35
Total length:36:15
Additional music

The first season features additional material from Richter's solo discography.[38]

All music is composed by Max Richter.

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Spring 1" (from the album Recomposed by Max Richter: Vivaldi – The Four Seasons, 2012)Max Richter, Antonio Vivaldi2:31
2."Summer 2" (from the album Recomposed by Max Richter: Vivaldi – The Four Seasons, 2012)Richter, Vivaldi3:59
3."Cypher" (from the single Cypher, 2018) 7:43
4."Aria 2 - Pt. 1" (from the album Sleep, 2015) 1:19
5."Infra 5" (from the album Infra, 2010) 5:16
6."Infra 8" (from the album Infra, 2010) 3:21
7."Love Song (Cascade)" (from the album Perfect Sense, 2011) 1:02
8."Organum" (from the album The Blue Notebooks, 2004) 3:13
9."Dream 13 (Minus Even)" (from the album From Sleep, 2015) 8:52
10."Vladimir's Blues" (from the album The Blue Notebooks, 2004) 1:18
11."Iconography" (from the album The Blue Notebooks, 2004) 3:38
12."Chorale/Glow - Pt. 1" (from the album Sleep, 2015) 2:00
13."Circles from The Rue Simon - Crubellier" (from the album 24 Postcards in Full Colour, 2008) 1:04
14."Dream 19 (Pulse) - Pt. 6" (from the album Sleep, 2015) 3:17
15."Interior Dreams an Idea" (from the album Henry May Long, 2009) 2:18
16."Kierling/Doubt" (from the album 24 Postcards in Full Colour, 2008) 0:50
17."Space 11 (Invisible Pages Over)" (from the album From Sleep, 2015) 5:15
18."Space 17 (Chains) - Pt. 7" (from the album Sleep, 2015) 1:08
19."Space 21 (Petrichor)" (from the album From Sleep, 2015) 4:47
20."Sublunar - Pt. 1" (from the album Sleep, 2015) 1:29

Season 2

My Brilliant Friend, Season 2
(TV Series Soundtrack)
Soundtrack album by
Max Richter
ReleasedMay 1, 2020 (2020-05-01)
GenreSoundtrack
Length54:51
LabelDeutsche Grammophon
Max Richter chronology
Ad Astra (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
(2019) 		My Brilliant Friend, Season 2
(TV Series Soundtrack)
(2020)

The soundtrack album for the second season was released by Deutsche Grammophon on May 1, 2020 for digital download.[39] The soundtrack features material from Richter's solo discography.

Track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Elena and Lila (Titles Season 2)"1:13
2."Sub Piano (MBF Version)" (from the album Infra, 2010)0:49
3."Protest March (Pt. 1)"1:09
4."Protest March (Pt. 2)"2:32
5."Organum (MBF Version)" (from the album The Blue Notebooks, 2004)3:15
6."Leo (MBF Version)" (from the reissue of the album Songs from Before, 2014)2:11
7."She Won't Answer"2:35
8."The Young Mariner (MBF Version)" (from the album Henry May Long, 2009)4:06
9."Harmonium (MBF Version)" (from the album Songs from Before, 2006)4:25
10."Cinema Music"6:28
11."Don't Put Sad Ideas In My Head / All By Themselves"3:21
12."Winter 2 (MBF Version)" (from the album Recomposed by Max Richter: Vivaldi – The Four Seasons, 2012)2:53
13."Return 16 (time capsule) [Edit]" (from the album Sleep, 2015)9:14
14."moth-like stars (Edit)" (from the album Sleep, 2015)10:40
Total length:54:51

Reception

The series has received critical acclaim. On Rotten Tomatoes, the first season has a 93% "certified fresh" rating with an average score of 8.41 out of 10 based on 55 reviews. The site's critical consensus is, "My Brilliant Friend is an expansive epic that gleans rapturous beauty from the most desolate of circumstances, but it is the intimacy between the central duo – and the remarkable performances that bring them to life – that audiences will remember most vividly".[40] On Metacritic, it has a score of 87 out of 100 based on 20 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[41] Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett of The Guardian stated "How revolutionary it still feels to see female friendship explored onscreen in this way. It goes without saying that it takes the Bechdel test and turns it into ragù."[42]

On Rotten Tomatoes, the second season has a 100% "certified fresh" rating with an average score of 9.5 out of 10 based on 14 reviews. The site's critical consensus is, "Gorgeously shot and full of incredible performances, My Brilliant Friend's second season expands its small world with rich results."[43] On Metacritic, it has a score of 92 out of 100 based on 8 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[44]

References

  1. ^ Jones, Tobias (November 19, 2018). "From Fellini to Ferrante: the cinematic vision of My Brilliant Friend". The Guardian. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  2. ^ Moylan, Brian (February 9, 2016). "Elena Ferrante's Neapolitan novels set for TV adaptation". The Guardian. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  3. ^ a b "My Brilliant Friend Debuts Sunday, Nov. 18 on HBO". HBO. September 13, 2018. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  4. ^ Patterson, Troy (November 15, 2018). ""My Brilliant Friend," Reviewed: A Prada Ad for Working-Class Gloom, but with Shades of Humble Tenderness". The New Yorker. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  5. ^ Otterson, Joe (December 4, 2018). "'My Brilliant Friend' Renewed for Season 2 at HBO, RAI". Variety.
  6. ^ a b Berni, Andrea Francesco (December 19, 2019). "L'Amica Geniale: storia del nuovo cognome, i primi due episodi usciranno al cinema, ecco il trailer!". BadTaste.it (in Italian). Retrieved December 24, 2019.
  7. ^ Romano, Nick (January 31, 2020). "HBO's My Brilliant Friend season 2 trailer continues the addicting, emotional drama". Entertainment Weekly.
  8. ^ Porter, Rick (April 30, 2020). "'My Brilliant Friend' Renewed for Third Season at HBO". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  9. ^ a b Evans, Greg (March 14, 2018). "HBO Unveils First-Look Photos Of 'My Brilliant Friend' Drama". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  10. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (November 20, 2018). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 11.18.2018". Showbuzz Daily.
  11. ^ a b "Ascolti TV | Martedì 27 novembre 2018. Boom per l'esordio de L'Amica Geniale (29.3%), disastro per Il Ristorante degli Chef (2.8%)". DavideMaggio.it. November 27, 2018. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  12. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (November 20, 2018). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Monday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 11.19.2018". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
  13. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (November 28, 2018). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 11.25.2018". Showbuzz Daily.
  14. ^ a b "Ascolti TV | Martedì 4 dicembre 2018. Ancora boom per L'Amica Geniale (30.1%). La Mummia 9.1%. Male La Vita in Diretta (14%-1,7 mln) che si fa acchiappare da Geo (13.9%-1,8 mln) e surclassare da Pomeriggio Cinque". DavideMaggio.it. December 4, 2018. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  15. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (November 28, 2018). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Monday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 11.26.2018". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
  16. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (December 4, 2018). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 12.2.2018". Showbuzz Daily.
  17. ^ a b "Ascolti TV | Martedì 11 dicembre 2018. L'Amica Geniale 28.7%, Canale 5 al 7%". DavideMaggio.it. December 11, 2018. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  18. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (December 4, 2018). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Monday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 12.3.2018". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  19. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (December 11, 2018). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 12.9.2018". Showbuzz Daily.
  20. ^ a b "'L'amica geniale' chiude in bellezza, straordinario successo con quasi 7 milioni di spettatori". Repubblica.it (in Italian). December 19, 2018. Retrieved July 21, 2019.
  21. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (December 11, 2018). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Monday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 12.10.2018". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  22. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (March 17, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Monday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 3.16.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  23. ^ a b "Ascolti e Share - RAI Ufficio Stampa". February 11, 2020. Archived from the original on February 11, 2020. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  24. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (March 24, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Monday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 3.23.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  25. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (March 31, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Monday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 3.30.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  26. ^ a b "Ascolti e Share - RAI Ufficio Stampa". February 18, 2020. Archived from the original on February 18, 2020.
  27. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (April 7, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Monday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 4.6.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  28. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (April 14, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Monday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 4.13.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved April 14, 2020.
  29. ^ a b "Ascolti e Share - RAI Ufficio Stampa". February 25, 2020. Archived from the original on February 25, 2020.
  30. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (April 21, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Monday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 4.20.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  31. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (April 28, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Monday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 4.27.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  32. ^ a b "Ascolti tv, Auditel del 2 marzo: L'amica geniale chiude con 7 milioni di spettatori". tvzap.kataweb.it. March 3, 2020. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  33. ^ Metcalf, Mitch (May 5, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Monday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 5.4.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  34. ^ Tammaro, Gianmaria (August 7, 2019). ""Skam Italia" cancellata. TimVision cambia strategia". La Stampa (in Italian). Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  35. ^ "Mowe - L'amica geniale - Storia del nuovo cognome". mowefilm.com. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  36. ^ "L'amica geniale, Gaia Girace lascia nella terza stagione: 'Spero che chi prenderà il mio posto ami Lila come ho fatto io'". tvzap.kataweb.it (in Italian). February 18, 2020.
  37. ^ "My Brilliant Friend (TV Series Soundtrack)". Apple Music. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  38. ^ My Brilliant Friend, a playlist by Max Richter on Spotify
  39. ^ "My Brilliant Friend, Season 2 (TV Series Soundtrack)". Apple Music. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  40. ^ "My Brilliant Friend: Season 1 (2018)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  41. ^ "My Brilliant Friend - Season 1 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
  42. ^ Cosslett, Rhiannon Lucy (November 27, 2018). "The brilliance of My Brilliant Friend: this series gives us female lives in full". The Guardian. Retrieved August 4, 2019.
  43. ^ "My Brilliant Friend: Season 2 (2020)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
  44. ^ "My Brilliant Friend - Season 2 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved March 17, 2020.

External links

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