User reviews

Transferring Elena Ferrante's books onto the screen is not an easy endeavour; they are not plot driven stories, actually the plot is at times so thin to be barely perceivable. There's a lot of soul searching, introspection, her prose is harsh as sandpaper, her characters are flawed, tormented (and sometimes tormenting) people. All these - and many more - fine ingredients conjure up pretty unique and atmospheric ambiences. And, as I said, transferring this complex bundle of intangible elements into a movie is hard.

The operation has worked wonderfully once already (with The Lost Daughter, with a superb Olivia Colman) and it is working partially in The Lying Life Of The Adults. The are several remarkable things in this production: the acting is pretty good across the board and it succeeds in bring to life a gallery of strong characters. The portrayal of Naples is very realistic, never falling into clichés of caricatures. And finally, the underlying feeling of uneasiness which pervades the story is rendered very well.

On the less positive side, a good editing would have cut down significantly this production to 4 episodes max. Lastly, I thought the presence of the soundtrack was rather intrusive, it was one song after the other, and I found it detracted from the pensiveness of some situations.

As "The Lying Lives of Adults" (2023 release from Italy; 6 episodes each of about 50 min) opens, we are introduced to teenager Giovanna and her parents. She overhears her dad lamenting that Giovanna "is becoming a spitting image of my sister", Aunt Vittoria, from whom he's been estranged for years. Giovanna's curiosity is peaked. What has become of Aunt Vittoria? Why is she estranged from the family? At this point we are 10 minutes into Episode 1.

Couple of comments: this is the latest film adaptation of Italian author Elena Ferrante, best known for her "My Brilliant Friend" saga (also adapted into a TV series). Once again the story is set in Napoli, but this time we are in the mid-90s (we can figure that out from various information in the initial episodes). In this type of series, what makes or brakes it is the storytelling, and once again Ferrera delivers the goods. One cannot help but compare this to "My Brilliant Friend" and it is true that it lacks the epic scale that "My Brilliant Friend" presented, and it also misses the iconic lead performances featured in "My Brilliant Friend". But I found "The Lying Life of Adults" nevertheless to be worth my time and attention.

"The Lying Life of Adults" was released by Netflix a few weeks ago in early January, and I just got around to binge-watching the 6 episodes over 2 consecutive evenings. If you are a fan of "My Brilliant Friend", I'd readily suggest you check this out as well, and draw your own conclusion. If you haven't seen either of "My Brilliant Friend" or "The Lying Life of Adults", I'd suggest you start with "My Brilliant Friend" (to date the TV adaptation of 3 of the 4 books have been released on HBO/HBO Max).

The series is an interesting character study. Well acted, nice cinematography, good dialogue. Each character with an understandable background and human emotions that fit. The question of what it means to be an adult is well presented through various scenarios.

But when I am saying that, it isn't the whole truth, because much like that statement, this series isn't whole, it is missing something.

While every scene in itself is engaging, they seem disconnected from one another. Sure, there is a clear timeline and you will never be completely lost as to where the current scene takes place. But everything is disconnected on an emotional level.

Many many actions (primarily those of the protagonist) come out of nowhere. The interesting thing is, they aren't completely broken to the point where you would say "plot hole" or "mistake". You think to yourself "oh well, I guess it kind of adds up." And that would be fine. But it's almost as if this is the way the story is told in general. It's the style of the narration, because it just keeps happening, non stop. This has the upside, that you are always surprised and engaged to what's going on, but ultimately I ended up feeling stupid and deceived in the end. Believing that in the end, it would all add up to a grand conclusion. A precise message this would paint.

As I mentioned the protagonist is the main source of this disconnect. That is for two reasons: 1) she apparently loves to make those around her angry at her actions. Often (if not most of the time) her actions seem motivated by nothing more than to actively act against the interests of others. She provokes constantly. This alone wouldn't not allow the disconnect but 2) Our protagonist is very reserved with showing emotions in any way. She doesn't talk a lot about her emotions, her facial expression always stays empty, there are no inner our outer monologues that helps us understand what's going on inside her. When she talks she constantly seems to contradict herself because of reason 1). She mostly says things to rile others up. So we can't even gain a lot of insight when she talks (usually though she is very quiet and the others do the talking). Her actions more often than not seem to be solely motivated to provoke to the point where it's against her own interests. People give her advice and I guess she's like "I will show you, by shooting myself in the leg!". You get the sense that she is constantly scheming and manipulating, but to no benefit, no goal. So, to me our protagonist stays an enigma for the entire series. A coming-of-age story usually has the protagonist go through a change, but in this one, it honestly feels like everyone BUT our protagonist changes. Their personalities and their life. While she is just floating along. Being an ass to unlikeable people and nice people alike. To people who love her and to those who don't.

This irritating behaviour also extends to some of the side characters. At some point a character just suddenly leaves. It comes out of nowhere, the whole scene takes a few seconds, it is never mentioned again. And just as it is so often in this series you can come to a conclusion, it is not like the information can't be extracted from what Information was given before. But still, you have to guess and that makes you feel like you're watching a murder mystery and the detective keeps uncovering murderers without telling the motive or how it was done. Even worse is, that without a more extensive insight into our characters, their behaviour seems erratic. If we can't be bothered to know our characters motivation before they take action, we can't really feel any empathy when the scene takes place. Empathy should have a pretty important role in a story like this though. And there are just aren't many characters here that can evoke any.

Those few characters that can, are great and I love them! The mother is an excellent example. Her behaviour never seems out of place for her character, she is sympathetic, interesting, she is faced with problems to overcome and she changes throughout the plot.

In conclusion I have to say, that this is an interesting work, with some beautiful sights, a not-so-good soundtrack, great production, (some) wonderful characters, good dialogue, and interesting concept, but it's often irritating storytelling drags it down a lot.

When reading Elena Ferrante's books I had a feeling of shame, as I became increasingly conscious of the fact that what I was reading is bad literature well written. The same happens with this series.

Good cinematography, beautiful photography, effective soundtrack, spot on casting. And yet... It doesn't work.

The problem is the backbone of the story, the characters. Why is everyone in this so confused about everything? Like, all the time, constantly confused, tense, lost. Why? Why are the main characters doing what they do? What are their reasons? We don't know and we are not given a chance to know, to understand them at least a bit. We don't learn about them, we just see them being erratic and confused, all of them, all the time during the six episodes the season lasts. Boh.

A masterpiece that represents the life of an adolescent in the context of Naples in the 90ties. The characters are beatifully cast in this multilayer drama in which different theme's in a fascinating way are connected. The coming of age, the tensions between social classes, family conflicts against a background of various aspects of the architecture of Naples, from villa's at the beach till depressing industry compounds. Never a dull moment. If you like Italy and the culture you ate well served. But don't expect an ameticanlike fast food movie with unilineair characters and easy digesting storylines. But if you are ready gor this Italian experience you will not be disappointed.

This series consists of a multitude of scenes that are completely disconnected from one another. The dialog makes no sense and comes across as a series of bizarre ramblings and short sentences, none of which contribute anything substantial or significant to the story. The characters all appear to be mental cases who just float along in a dreamlike state. There is a lot of staring and the usual multitude of closeups of eyes, lips, noses that are so commonplace in European series. It is literally impossible to unravel the rubbish and come away with an actual story! If there is an actual story or message in this mess, it's extremely well hidden!

I have never read the novel by Elena Ferrante, so i can not make a direct comparison.

The series starts slowly, almost plotless. The story is not eventful, but it's the characterization and the development of the characters the real aim. The personal growth, the come of age, the discovery of the world is perfectly told in this raw, true and beautifully shot depiction on the background of an enchanting, then haunted Naples.

Valeria Golino's performance is astonishing and the rest of the cast is not of any less.

A small pearl to watch and appreciate on its own regardless the book, as a deep representation of human beings and their relationships.

Yes, I know this series apparently takes place in the '90s, but it reminded me of the sort of films fashionable in the '70s (and that now seem so cringey and trite), the sort that celebrated Holy Fools, colorful misfits and eccentrics, even downright madmen, because their refusal to conform to polite society served as... blah blah blah... (You know what I'm talking about.)

In the creepy third season of the earlier Ferrante series "My Brilliant Friend" -- and, I assume, in the third volume of the novels -- Elena, the virtuous central character and narrator, turned selfish and cruel, betraying and humiliating her husband, running out on her children, and eagerly embarking on an affair with a suave, preening, repellent young academic -- an affair for which he abandoned his own family. And one had the sense, or at least I had the sense, that Ferrante not only approved of this sort of egocentric "self-realization," but actually endorsed it.

This theme (which also surfaced in Ferrante's "The Lost Daughter") animates "The Lying Life of Adults" from the very first episode. Its teenage heroine is selfish from the start. She's sullen, taciturn, failing at school, and openly ungrateful to her parents, even somewhat disdainful of them, though they coddle her and treat her with affection. In short, unless you have a soft spot for sullen teenagers (or are one yourself), she's fairly disagreeable. But we're clearly expected to care about her.

Worse, she's played by a stiff, unappealing newcomer, Giordana Marengo. One of the many virtues of "My Brilliant Friend" was the casting; all four of the young actresses playing the two friends were superb. No such luck this time. The heroine of "Lying Life" is supposed to be just 15, but she actually looks older than the actress playing her mother.

We're also supposed to care about the heroine's aunt, an angry, foul-mouthed, combative, mentally unbalanced scold whom we're nonetheless encouraged to see as one of those endearingly colorful misfits I mentioned above. And from the moment in Episode 1 when she enters the young heroine's life, you can see exactly where this story is going.

This series provides a rare opportunity to experience something real while watching Netflix.

You will find complex characters that develop, rather than resolve; moral dilemmas that are not black and white; a study on hypocrisy; theme of forgiveness/moving on/acceptance of humanity in all its flawed glory.. and all of it is set against the backdrop of grimy, sketchy Naples in the 90s - which looks pretty much opposite to the "eat-pray-love" kind of Italy.

Each episode was thought provoking for multiple reasons, and I devoured the series the way I devour cold coconut water on a hot summer day.

I docked a star for the horrendous musical score.

The Lying Life of Adults feels like its trying hard to make it, but fails to do so.

The short series, only six episodes long, follows the life of a teenager who is discovering life with the help of her unruly aunt Vittoria. And yet, the aunt isn't as unruly as she is presented to be. Sure, she's got fire and she is feisty, but she is not the grant character that the drama needed to help it sail smoothly.

Thus, it was left on the actual story to draw the bunny out of the hat. Unfortunately, the family drama, the teenage angst, along with the sexual awakening of the lead, were not enough to surprise the audience.

Still, the vibes are there and the presentation of the era just right to make things interesting for a while.

However, it did felt like a watered down version of My Brilliant Friend.

So, overall, two out of ten.

I watch Italian series for entertainment and to learn Italian (I watch all shows anyway in the original language with English subtitles). This series is meticulously put together, and features solid locations, great set designs, and an interesting choice of music (Italian pop hits from the 1990s, is my guess). The characters are all intriguing, and are presented for our viewing through the eyes of the main protagonist, diffident teenager Giovanna- hence the "mystery" or "alienation" about them some viewers say they could not cope with: these characters are as mysterious to Giovanna as they are to us. She is 16, curious, and she discovers, searches, experiments, and in the process hurts herself and others. But she wants a life worth living. It does not matter whether we like these characters or even Giovanna: everyone in the show feels real, and the ride is compelling (almost too short- 6 episodes only!)

I had a couple of goes at watching "My Brilliant Friend" when it appeared on a previous years Guardian's best of list, but couldn't get beyond the first episode either time. I tried this series though, another adaptation of an Elena Ferrante story, which was similarly on the best of 2023 list. I did manage to finish it, but I'd be lying if I said it wasn't a struggle.

Giovanna (Giordana Marengo) has enjoyed a comfortable upbringing due to her wealthy family in Naples. Her movement into adolescence though has led to her struggling to find her place between her family and friends and the poorer Neapolitan kids she knows. Learning that she resembles her father's estranged sister, Vittoria (Valeria Golino) Giovanna asks to meet her. Vittoria, who lives in a poorer area shows her another side of life, which only deepens the maelstrom of confusion in her.

It's strange I admit, but one of the reasons I stuck with this was seeing Valeria Golino again. Who I'm not sure I've seen since "Hot Shots: Part Deux". She's really good in this, the sort of sexy, damaged character you get a lot of in European series. To be fair, all of the performances are good, but especially from Giordana Marengo who plays Giovanna and is in virtually every scene of the series.

I struggled though, I think because I look for a narrative to bond my attention too and though the atmosphere of Naples at that time is well recreated, I imagine, from a storyline, not a whole lot happens. I kept attaching myself to bits on the story, only for it to drift away to the ether and never mentioned again. I understand that's what life is like, being shaped constantly by complicated, contradictory stimulus - but I'm not here for life, I'm here for provocation or entertainment and I'm afraid I didn't get much of either from this.

The actors are good, but I didn't like it at all. It shows us a bunch of characters that are really kind of hopeless and depressing. The main character kind of rebels, but there's no joy in any of it, and the way her relationships develop kind of sucks, I would've liked to have seen her make some sort of positive life for herself, her own way, instead of turning into what I feel like is just a younger, equally sucky version of her parents and the adults around her. Sure, the way she rekindles the relationship with her aunt is a bit moving, but all of the lies are completely useless, you don't have to face any grim realities in order to live more happily in the present. I prefer more optimistic stories that make show ways to see life as more magical.

I don't like this type of portrayal of a mediocre, sex and decadent attitude centered life. If you like more dreamy, optimistic shows, don't watch this. If you'd like an interesting, still hard but much more moving Italian TV show with good acting and characters you fall for, watch Mare Fuori (The Sea Beyond), it's really not that bad and it's not just for teens and young adults. This? I didn't like.

The Lying Life of Adults is a masterful series that captivates audiences with its intricate storytelling and beautifully crafted characters. The show's attention to detail and stunning visuals create a cinematic experience that is both captivating and thought-provoking. This is a must-see for fans of great storytelling and top-notch cinematography.

The cinematography of the show is simply stunning, with the clever use of wind, leaves, and light to convey a wide range of emotions. The objects in each scene are carefully chosen to express the characters' desires, deception, and hunger, adding another layer of depth to the already richly drawn world of the series. Overall, The Lying Life of Adults is a triumph of storytelling and filmmaking that should not be missed by anyone who appreciates the art of visual storytelling.

Elena Ferrante's books never let you down. This specific storyline based on her latest book is another gem of great italian cinema. It is a story about a young teenage girl's coming of age through a series of events and life lessons with her whole world falling apart that give her a ride like a roller coaster. But besides the story, the series' production value is unbelievable! Impeccable acting, art direction and cinematography. Edoardo de Angelis' direction is a true masterpiece. A masterclass for future directors. And last but not least, Valeria Golino gives a mesmerizing performance that stands out! The greatest performance of her career!

If you paid attention how the film carefully waves the central narrative with the surrounding enviroment, music, and every elements in the story you will no doubt be surprised!

The story was literally a meticulously designed big feast, you can see how semelessly the music tinged in the character's emotion and how the concept that we always find how to define such as'what is means to be a grown-up?' 'How you make a choice simply by your heart regardless of everything eles that come and stops you.' 'how you life your own life?''why we choose to be exile in a tumultuous time ' been answered in a way that was storng, loud and chaotic way. Its anger behind this girl, and we are so lucky to see the wolrd and its people changing form her beautiful point of view.

Everything is full of vibe, everything is full of emotion, What a great journey.

I watched the previous series My Brilliant Film, and loved it. But perhaps because it was one episode a week, and the series only once a year, it was much harder to keep the characters straight than the current The Lying Lives of Adults. I understand the underlying themes quite well-the hypocrisy of the left attempting to understand the working class, who were too busy trying to survive to care about Marxist theory; the ways that academics are sometimes shallow, reading and talking about politics but very seldom carrying out their beliefs; and finally the ways that friendships between women can survive betrayals, harsh words and lies. Some of the characters from the earlier series are also transposed with different names into this one. Its a beautiful series which has done what it accomplished, transformed literature into film. My only wish is that Netflix didn't dub in so many of their foreign features. It is sometimes flat and doesn't follow the subtitles.

This series is spellbinding. The narrative of coming of age is been done, but not like this series. It's filled with passion, loss, betrayals and pain. Director Angelis takes you on a journey that is exacting in adult hypocrisy concerning life and the chasms of growing up. The aunt played by Valeria Golino, spectacular performance as a jaded woman who lives her life fully but with pain brings her niece played by Giordana Marengo, who by the way is the female Timothy Chalamet brings a freshness to her role as tormented teenage figuring out her loyalties. Netflix did a wonderful job on this one.