# The Lying Life of Adults (2023)

> A young girl in 1990s Naples discovers the gap between the refined mask and the vulgar reality of the adults around her.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/86562

## Facts

- Seasons: 1
- Episodes: 6
- Episode runtime: 50 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: drama
- Created by: Edoardo De Angelis
- Network: Netflix
- Cast: Giordana Marengo, Valeria Golino, Alessandro Preziosi, Pina Turco, Azzurra Mennella, Rossella Gamba, Raffaella Rea, Biagio Forestieri
- TMDB rating: 6.4/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12708140/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: measured
- Intensity: moderate
- Complexity: layered
- Violence: mild
- Tone: bittersweet, melancholic, intimate, observational

## What critics say

Reviewers and audiences see a mixed result: the Naples setting and Giordana Marengo's performance are appreciated, while the adaptation's uneven tone and sprawl draw reservations.

## Synopsis

The Lying Life of Adults (2023) is an Italian literary coming of age miniseries created by Edoardo De Angelis for Netflix. Giordana Marengo plays Giovanna, a young girl moving from childhood into adolescence, while Valeria Golino plays her mother Vittoria and Alessandro Preziosi plays Andrea, a figure whose adult conduct shapes her view of the world. Across six fifty-minute episodes, Giovanna tries to find her true reflection in a city split between the Naples of the heights, which wears a mask of refinement, and the Naples of the depths, a place of excess and vulgarity. Her quest is driven by the need to understand which version of the adults around her is real, and each episode pulls her deeper into the contradictions of her family and neighborhood. The series is a limited miniseries of six episodes, set in 1990s Naples, with an intimate, dysfunctional family focus and a bittersweet, melancholic register. Its patient, observational style and attention to class and appearance will appeal to viewers who enjoy the literary family drama of My Brilliant Friend and the sharp adolescent perspective of Lady Bird, as well as anyone drawn to Italian prestige drama. Rich in atmosphere and emotional texture, it rewards close, attentive viewing.

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