'The Lying Life of Adults' (2023) - Drama Series on Netflix

The Lying Life of Adults (La vita bugiarda degli adulti) is a drama series directed by Edoardo De Angelis starring Valeria Golino, Giordana Marengo and Alessandro Preziosi.

A series that, deep down (and on the surface), is pure sensitivity and introspection. It is a sincere look at adolescence that if you are not interested in that phase of life or uninterested in personal growth, the series might strike you as a twee bit boring. However, if you pay attention you will see that the filmmaker has managed a magnificent portrayal of the characters, and a good cinematic construction.

About the Series

In six episodes of inner dialogue, existential doubts that the protagonist Giovanna has to deal with, and relays her feelings in this coming-of-age journey to maturity.

The lying Life of Adults is definitely a coming-of-age series, with the Italian cinematic takes – some claim is inherited from the neorealist movement, barring the photographic construction.

It is interesting in its reconstruction of the 90’s, and the good atmospherics, following a paused tempo, with varying photographic approaches – from the well lit sequences, to the dark handheld blurry takes.

This is a series that seems to seek the sincerity, and approaches the female characterizations conveying their presupposed complexity and simplicity (what a few men have said of women throughout time). The most interesting facet of this series, to me, is that it is based on a novel by Elena Ferrante – the grand mystery of contemporary literature, nobody knows who “she” is; some have claimed it is a group of three accomplished male writers who have taken on that nom de plume. Now that is a mystery worth delving into!

Premise

Giovanna navigates her passage from childhood into adolescence as she experiences the different sides of Naples during the 1990s.

Episode List

Beauty

After Giovanna overhears her father’s comment comparing her to his estranged sister, the teen travels to a rough part of Naples to meet her aunt.

Resemblance

Giovanna accompanies Vittoria to Enzo’s grave and learns about their family’s falling out. A conversation about passion awakens something in Giovanna.

Bitterness

Giovanna’s friends clash with Vittoria on a visit to the slums. The bracelet Vittoria gifted Giovanna as a baby turns up in an unexpected place.

Loneliness

A secret gets out and unravels two families. Giovanna fails out of school and has her first sexual encounter. Vittoria demands her bracelet back.

Love

Giovanna’s interest in a charming young religious scholar rankles her worldly father. It also irritates Vittoria, who is wary of the teen’s intentions.