“My Brilliant Friend” is set to close the book on Elena and Lila’s journey. The Italian- and Neapolitan-language television series has been renewed for a fourth and final season by co-producers HBO and Rai.
Based on the acclaimed “Neapolitan Novels” four-book series by Italian writer Elena Ferrante, “My Brilliant Friend” follows the coming-of-age of two best friends, Elena Greco and Lila Cerullo, who grow up in a poor Naples neighborhood in the 1950s. As the smart-but-shy Elena continues her education and eventually ascends into the wealthy elite, the outspoken Lila is denied schooling by her family and struggles through an abusive marriage. The show, which is named after the first novel in Ferrante’s series, has adapted each book into an eight-episode season, with the fourth season set to adapt the final installment, “The Story of the Lost Child.”
The first three seasons of “My Brilliant Friend” have starred...
Based on the acclaimed “Neapolitan Novels” four-book series by Italian writer Elena Ferrante, “My Brilliant Friend” follows the coming-of-age of two best friends, Elena Greco and Lila Cerullo, who grow up in a poor Naples neighborhood in the 1950s. As the smart-but-shy Elena continues her education and eventually ascends into the wealthy elite, the outspoken Lila is denied schooling by her family and struggles through an abusive marriage. The show, which is named after the first novel in Ferrante’s series, has adapted each book into an eight-episode season, with the fourth season set to adapt the final installment, “The Story of the Lost Child.”
The first three seasons of “My Brilliant Friend” have starred...
- 3/22/2022
- by Wilson Chapman
- Variety Film + TV
To mark the release of My Brilliant Friend on 3rd August, we’ve been given 2 copies to give away on DVD.
Elena Greco is an elderly writer whose best friend Lila has disappeared without a trace, so Elena begins to write the story of their lives growing up together in a mob-ruled, poverty-stricken neighbourhood in 1950s Naples. As children, Elena (Elisa Del Genio) and Lila’s (Ludovica Nasti) friendship is put to the test as financial disparities provide them with very different opportunities in life. Lila’s writing genius is stifled after her parents can no longer afford further education and put her to work, while Elena flourishes in school, no longer in the shadow of her friend’s brilliance.
The second series follows Elena (Margherita Mazzucco) and Lila (Gaia Girace) as adolescents into the Swinging Sixties, where this fierce, complex friendship must endure romantic rivalry and shocking violence, as...
Elena Greco is an elderly writer whose best friend Lila has disappeared without a trace, so Elena begins to write the story of their lives growing up together in a mob-ruled, poverty-stricken neighbourhood in 1950s Naples. As children, Elena (Elisa Del Genio) and Lila’s (Ludovica Nasti) friendship is put to the test as financial disparities provide them with very different opportunities in life. Lila’s writing genius is stifled after her parents can no longer afford further education and put her to work, while Elena flourishes in school, no longer in the shadow of her friend’s brilliance.
The second series follows Elena (Margherita Mazzucco) and Lila (Gaia Girace) as adolescents into the Swinging Sixties, where this fierce, complex friendship must endure romantic rivalry and shocking violence, as...
- 7/11/2020
- by Competitions
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
In a Gold Derby exclusive, we have learned the category placements of the key Emmy Awards contenders for HBO. For this season, the premium network has returning champs “Game of Thrones”, “Barry” (Bill Hader), “Veep” (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), newcomers “Gentleman Jack” (Suranne Jones) and “Succession” (Brian Cox), plus limited series “Chernobyl” (Jared Harris), “Sharp Objects” (Amy Adams) and “True Detective” (Mahershala Ali) as part of their 2019 campaign.
Below, the list of HBO lead, supporting and guest submissions for their comedy, drama, TV movies and limited series. More names might be added by the network on the final Emmy ballot. Also note that performers not included on this list may well be submitted by their personal reps.
SEECarmen Ejogo Interview: ‘True Detective’
“Ballers”
Comedy Series
Comedy Actor – Dwayne Johnson
Comedy Supporting Actress – Joy Bryant, Brittany S. Hall
Comedy Supporting Actor – Russell Brand, London Brown, Donovan W. Carter, Rob Corddry, Troy Garity, Omar Miller,...
Below, the list of HBO lead, supporting and guest submissions for their comedy, drama, TV movies and limited series. More names might be added by the network on the final Emmy ballot. Also note that performers not included on this list may well be submitted by their personal reps.
SEECarmen Ejogo Interview: ‘True Detective’
“Ballers”
Comedy Series
Comedy Actor – Dwayne Johnson
Comedy Supporting Actress – Joy Bryant, Brittany S. Hall
Comedy Supporting Actor – Russell Brand, London Brown, Donovan W. Carter, Rob Corddry, Troy Garity, Omar Miller,...
- 4/23/2019
- by Chris Beachum
- Gold Derby
To mark the release of My Brilliant Friend on 18th March, we’ve been given a copy to give away on Blu-ray.
When the most important friend in her life seems to have disappeared without a trace, Elena Greco, a now elderly woman immersed in a house full of books, turns on her computer and starts writing the story of their friendship. She met Raffaella Cerullo (Ludovica Nasti and Gaia Girace), whom she has always called Lila, in the first year of primary school in 1950. Set in a dangerous and fascinating Naples, their story begins and goes on to cover over 60 years of their lives as she tries to describe the mystery of Lila, Elena’s brilliant friend and – in a way – her best friend, and her worst enemy.
Please note: This competition is open to UK residents only
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The Small Print
Open to UK residents only...
When the most important friend in her life seems to have disappeared without a trace, Elena Greco, a now elderly woman immersed in a house full of books, turns on her computer and starts writing the story of their friendship. She met Raffaella Cerullo (Ludovica Nasti and Gaia Girace), whom she has always called Lila, in the first year of primary school in 1950. Set in a dangerous and fascinating Naples, their story begins and goes on to cover over 60 years of their lives as she tries to describe the mystery of Lila, Elena’s brilliant friend and – in a way – her best friend, and her worst enemy.
Please note: This competition is open to UK residents only
a Rafflecopter giveaway
The Small Print
Open to UK residents only...
- 3/11/2019
- by Competitions
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
When Saverio Costanzo, the director of HBO and Rai’s “My Brilliant Friend,” started to plan how he would depict the grand but gritty city of Naples — one that’s so vivid in the imaginations of millions of Elena Ferrante readers, he quickly decided that the working-class neighborhood at the core of her four Neapolitan novels had to be fictional.
“Our starting point was always the fake city,” he says, noting that precisely because no other city in Italy has such a strong identity, keeping the right distance from Naples was what enabled him to represent it so intensely.
The drab ’hood called Rione Luzzatti was reconstructed on the grounds of an abandoned glass factory in Caserta, about 20 miles north of Naples, a roughly 5-acre converted space that’s become among the largest sets in Europe. Production designer Giancarlo Basili and local craftsmen built many of the story’s most...
“Our starting point was always the fake city,” he says, noting that precisely because no other city in Italy has such a strong identity, keeping the right distance from Naples was what enabled him to represent it so intensely.
The drab ’hood called Rione Luzzatti was reconstructed on the grounds of an abandoned glass factory in Caserta, about 20 miles north of Naples, a roughly 5-acre converted space that’s become among the largest sets in Europe. Production designer Giancarlo Basili and local craftsmen built many of the story’s most...
- 1/18/2019
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
My Brilliant Friend is heading to China after digital platform iQIYI struck a deal with distributor Fremantle International.
My Brilliant Friend is the tale of Elena Greco and the most important friend in her life. She met Raffaella Cerullo, whom she has always called Lila, in the first year of primary school in 1950. Set in a dangerous and fascinating Naples, their story goes on to cover more than 60 years of their lives and explores the mystery of Lila, Elena’s brilliant friend and – in a way – both her best friend and her worst enemy.
Filmed in Italian, the eight-episode first season stars newcomers Elisa Del Genio and Ludovica Nasti as the younger versions of Elena and Lila, while Margherita Mazzucco and Gaia Girace portray teenage versions of the characters. All episodes are directed by Saverio Costanzo.
My Brilliant Friend is an HBO, Rai Fiction and Timvision series, produced by Lorenzo Mieli...
My Brilliant Friend is the tale of Elena Greco and the most important friend in her life. She met Raffaella Cerullo, whom she has always called Lila, in the first year of primary school in 1950. Set in a dangerous and fascinating Naples, their story goes on to cover more than 60 years of their lives and explores the mystery of Lila, Elena’s brilliant friend and – in a way – both her best friend and her worst enemy.
Filmed in Italian, the eight-episode first season stars newcomers Elisa Del Genio and Ludovica Nasti as the younger versions of Elena and Lila, while Margherita Mazzucco and Gaia Girace portray teenage versions of the characters. All episodes are directed by Saverio Costanzo.
My Brilliant Friend is an HBO, Rai Fiction and Timvision series, produced by Lorenzo Mieli...
- 12/7/2018
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
HBO and Italian broadcaster Rai have renewed “My Brilliant Friend” for a second season ahead of the Season 1 finale.
The eight-episode first season of the show is based on Elena Ferrante’s best-selling book of the same name, which is the first of her four-part series published in the U.S. by Europa Editions. Season 2 will be based on “The Story of a New Name,” her second book in the series.
“We’re thrilled that Elena Ferrante’s epic story has resonated so powerfully with viewers and critics, and we look forward to the continuing journey of Elena and Lila,” said Casey Bloys, president of HBO Programming.
The series is the tale of Elena Greco and the most important friend in her life. She met Raffaella Cerullo, whom she has always called Lila, in the first year of primary school in 1950. Set in Naples, their story goes on to cover...
The eight-episode first season of the show is based on Elena Ferrante’s best-selling book of the same name, which is the first of her four-part series published in the U.S. by Europa Editions. Season 2 will be based on “The Story of a New Name,” her second book in the series.
“We’re thrilled that Elena Ferrante’s epic story has resonated so powerfully with viewers and critics, and we look forward to the continuing journey of Elena and Lila,” said Casey Bloys, president of HBO Programming.
The series is the tale of Elena Greco and the most important friend in her life. She met Raffaella Cerullo, whom she has always called Lila, in the first year of primary school in 1950. Set in Naples, their story goes on to cover...
- 12/4/2018
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
HBO and Rai have ordered a second season of the critically praised series My Brilliant Friend.
The eight-episode first season is based on Elena Ferrante’s bestselling book of the same name, which is the first of her four-part series published in the U.S. by Europa Editions. Season 2 will be based on The Story of a New Name, her second book in the series. A start date for production has not yet been announced.
“We’re thrilled that Elena Ferrante’s epic story has resonated so powerfully with viewers and critics, and we look forward to the continuing journey of Elena and Lila,” said Casey Bloys, president, HBO Programming, in announcing the news Tuesday.
“Rai is deeply proud of the extraordinary success of My Brilliant Friend. It’s an important milestone that confirms our commitment to focusing on international co-production, as well as on the value of Italian talent,...
The eight-episode first season is based on Elena Ferrante’s bestselling book of the same name, which is the first of her four-part series published in the U.S. by Europa Editions. Season 2 will be based on The Story of a New Name, her second book in the series. A start date for production has not yet been announced.
“We’re thrilled that Elena Ferrante’s epic story has resonated so powerfully with viewers and critics, and we look forward to the continuing journey of Elena and Lila,” said Casey Bloys, president, HBO Programming, in announcing the news Tuesday.
“Rai is deeply proud of the extraordinary success of My Brilliant Friend. It’s an important milestone that confirms our commitment to focusing on international co-production, as well as on the value of Italian talent,...
- 12/4/2018
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
“My Brilliant Friend” is exactly the kind of story TV needs to explore, but it’s told in a way that ensures fewer will be made. Focusing on a deeply relatable friendship between two girls in 1950s Italy, the eight-part HBO adaptation digs into the personal observations of characters typically marginalized in stories of the era. The girls are the leads and their friendship forms the journey; boys, men, and their affairs are pushed to the periphery. While the series captures dynamics of adoration and jealousy that rarely have the spotlight, director and writer Saver Costanzo, as well as fellow writers Francesco Piccolo and Laura Paolucci, fail to translate Elena Ferrante’s bestselling, four-novel franchise into an enthralling onscreen experience.
Faithful to a fault, much of the impact is lost in translation. Narration becomes a crutch, direction is bland, and pacing is sluggish. Frustrations like these will likely turn off...
Faithful to a fault, much of the impact is lost in translation. Narration becomes a crutch, direction is bland, and pacing is sluggish. Frustrations like these will likely turn off...
- 11/15/2018
- by Ben Travers
- Indiewire
The title character of HBO’s My Brilliant Friend is Lila Cerullo, a shoemaker’s daughter in a poor neighborhood on the outskirts of Naples in the Fifties. Defying all odds of both nature and nurture, she is a prodigy who masters whatever task she sets her mind to, usually without any outside instruction. As an elementary schooler, she reads Little Women and is inspired to write her own novel. Best friend Elena “Lenu” Greco reads it and is amazed by how naturally Lila articulates all her points.
The adult Elena,...
The adult Elena,...
- 11/14/2018
- by Alan Sepinwall
- Rollingstone.com
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