# The Lying Life of Adults (TV series)

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. It was released internationally by Netflix on 4 January 2023.

## 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

* Giordana Marengo as Giovanna
* Alessandro Preziosi as Andrea
* Pina Turco as Nella
* Raffaella Rea as Costanza
* Biagio Forestieri as Mariano
* Valeria Golino as Vittoria
* Rossella Gamba as Angela
* Azzurra Mennella as Ida
* Susy Del Giudice as Margherita
* Giuseppe Brunetti as Corrado
* Maria Vera Ratti as Giuliana
* Gianluca Spagnoli as Tonino
* Adriano Pantaleo as Rosario
* Giovanni Buselli as Roberto

## Episodes

| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
| 1 | 1 | "Beauty" (Bellezza) | Edoardo De Angelis | Elena Ferrante, Laura Paolucci, Francesco Piccolo & Edoardo De Angelis | 4 January 2023 (2023-01-04) |
| 2 | 2 | "Resemblance" (Somiglianza) | Edoardo De Angelis | Elena Ferrante, Laura Paolucci, Francesco Piccolo & Edoardo De Angelis | 4 January 2023 (2023-01-04) |
| 3 | 3 | "Bitterness" (Amarezza) | Edoardo De Angelis | Elena Ferrante, Laura Paolucci, Francesco Piccolo & Edoardo De Angelis | 4 January 2023 (2023-01-04) |
| 4 | 4 | "Loneliness" (Solitudine) | Edoardo De Angelis | Elena Ferrante, Laura Paolucci, Francesco Piccolo & Edoardo De Angelis | 4 January 2023 (2023-01-04) |
| 5 | 5 | "Love" (Amore) | Edoardo De Angelis | Elena Ferrante, Laura Paolucci, Francesco Piccolo & Edoardo De Angelis | 4 January 2023 (2023-01-04) |
| 6 | 6 | "Truth" (Verità) | Edoardo De Angelis | Elena Ferrante, Laura Paolucci, Francesco Piccolo & Edoardo De Angelis | 4 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." According to Metacritic, which assigned a weighted average score of 79 out of 100 based on 7 critics, the series received "generally favorable reviews". 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."

### Awards and nominations

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