The Lying Life of Adults
English poster
ItalianLa vita bugiarda degli adulti
Genre
Created byEdoardo De Angelis
Based onThe Lying Life of Adults
by Elena Ferrante
Written by
  • Elena Ferrante
  • Laura Paolucci
  • Francesco Piccolo
  • Edoardo De Angelis
Directed byEdoardo De Angelis
Starring
Narrated byGiordana Marengo
ComposerEnzo Avitabile
Country of originItaly
Original languages
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes6
Production
Executive producer
  • Ivan Fiorini
Producers
  • Domenico Procacci
  • Laura Paolucci
CinematographyFerran Paredes Rubio
Editors
  • Lorenzo Peluso
  • Chiara Griziotti
Production companyFandango
Original release
NetworkNetflix
Release4 January 2023 (2023-01-04)

The Lying Life of Adults (Italian: La vita bugiarda degli adulti) is an Italian and Neapolitan-language coming-of-age drama television series created by Edoardo De Angelis, based on the 2019 novel of the same name by Elena Ferrante.[2][3][4][5] It was released internationally by Netflix on 4 January 2023.[6]

Plot

Giovanna Trada is a 15-year-old girl born to a well-to-do family in Naples. As she makes the transition from childhood to adolescence, however, she struggles to find an identity among the bourgeoisie world of her parents, especially as she begins to bear a striking resemblance to her Aunt Vittoria, who has been ostracized from the family for years. Despite her parents' wishes, Giovanna convinces her father to let her visit Vittoria, who lives in a rough part of the city. Giovanna's relationship with Vittoria soon opens her eyes to unspeakable secrets about her family and their past.

Cast

Episodes

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
11"Beauty"
(Bellezza)		Edoardo De AngelisElena Ferrante, Laura Paolucci, Francesco Piccolo & Edoardo De Angelis4 January 2023 (2023-01-04)
22"Resemblance"
(Somiglianza)		Edoardo De AngelisElena Ferrante, Laura Paolucci, Francesco Piccolo & Edoardo De Angelis4 January 2023 (2023-01-04)
33"Bitterness"
(Amarezza)		Edoardo De AngelisElena Ferrante, Laura Paolucci, Francesco Piccolo & Edoardo De Angelis4 January 2023 (2023-01-04)
44"Loneliness"
(Solitudine)		Edoardo De AngelisElena Ferrante, Laura Paolucci, Francesco Piccolo & Edoardo De Angelis4 January 2023 (2023-01-04)
55"Love"
(Amore)		Edoardo De AngelisElena Ferrante, Laura Paolucci, Francesco Piccolo & Edoardo De Angelis4 January 2023 (2023-01-04)
66"Truth"
(Verità)		Edoardo De AngelisElena Ferrante, Laura Paolucci, Francesco Piccolo & Edoardo De Angelis4 January 2023 (2023-01-04)

Reception

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 100% of 14 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.8/10. The website's consensus reads: "Adapted with the same patient rhythms as Elena Ferrante's novel, The Lying Life of Adults is a coming of age epic with genuine wisdom and sweep."[7] According to Metacritic, which assigned a weighted average score of 79 out of 100 based on 7 critics, the series received "generally favorable reviews".[8] Rebecca Nicholson of The Guardian wrote, "When I read The Lying Life of Adults, I thought of it as a very internal and inward-looking story, but this version breathes new life into it, turns it outwards, and adds a touch of rocket fuel."[9]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominee Result Ref.
2023 Nastri d'Argento Grandi Serie Best Series The Lying Life of Adults Nominated [10][11]
Best Actress Giordana Marengo Nominated
Valeria Golino Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Alessandro Preziosi Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Pina Turco Nominated

References

  1. ^ McCahill, Mike (2 January 2023). "Netflix Hops on the Elena Ferrante Bandwagon With Persuasive 'The Lying Life of Adults': TV Review". Variety. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  2. ^ Vivarelli, Nick (12 May 2020). "Elena Ferrante's 'Lying Life of Adults' to Be Adapted by Netflix, Italy's Fandango". Variety. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  3. ^ Davies, Hannah J (12 May 2020). "Netflix to adapt Elena Ferrante's The Lying Life of Adults". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  4. ^ Romano, Nick (12 May 2020). "Netflix is adapting new Elena Ferrante book before its even out". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  5. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (12 May 2020). "Netflix & Italy's Fandango To Develop Series Based On Elena Ferrante's 'The Lying Life Of Adults'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  6. ^ Saha, Joy; Nguyen, Hanh (31 December 2022). "What to watch on Netflix in January, from a "That '70s Show" spinoff to a nonlinear heist adventure". Salon.com. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  7. ^ "The Lying Life of Adults: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  8. ^ "The Lying Life of Adults". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  9. ^ Nicholson, Rebecca (5 January 2023). "The Lying Life of Adults: another impeccable Elena Ferrante TV show". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  10. ^ Leombruni, Lucrezia (12 May 2023). "Nastri d'Argento, Mare Fuori è la serie dell'anno". Agenzia Dire (in Italian).
  11. ^ Naselli, Antonio (17 June 2023). "NASTRI d'ARGENTO GRANDI SERIE 2023_NASTRI SPECIALI e STASERA LA PREMIAZIONE". Nastri d'Argento (in Italian).

External links

Netflix original current series
Elena Ferrante
Categories