‘The Lying Life of Adults’ Review: A Coming of Age Story in the Heart of Italy
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Coming-of-age stories are very important. For teenagers and young adults, they serve the purpose of guidance during a time when finding your own path seems to be an impossible task. For adults, coming-of-age stories remind them of the things that were but also the things that could be, as it is never too late to turn and take another road. The Lying Life of Adults is a new Italian Netflix TV series that serves as one of those perfect coming-of-age stories. It is gentle and direct, but also raw and real.
The Lying Life of Adults is a TV series developed by Edoardo De Angelis for Netflix and starring Giordana Marengo, Valeria Golino, Alessandro Presiozi, and Pina Turco. The series is an adaptation of the novel of the same name, written by Elena Ferrante. The series tells the story of Giovanna, a young girl trying to find her place in the world. However, things are a bit complicated as an internal conflict within her family seems to divide her loyalties between the father, whom she respects, and the aunt, whom she admires.
If there is one word that could define The Lying Life of Adults as a TV series, it would be “gentle.” The series created by Edoardo De Angelis tries to be as gentle as possible, even in the moments where the tension is the main focus. The way the series plays out its events, how it introduces its characters, and even its conflicts are all gentle. The series really wants to lay out all of this in the softest possible way. This doesn’t mean there is no intensity, there is, but there is always something after it that makes you feel safer than in other stories like this.
Certainly, the objective of the story is far from the classic “make you cry” intent. Here, the show’s only intention is to show how this girl will learn from the people around her and how she will learn to make the decision that will define her as a person for the rest of her life. Like the book, the plot itself is very scattered. Instead, the story focuses on small events in Giovanna’s life. A meeting with friends, a visit to the cemetery, sharing gelato with a person you like. All these moments might feel small, but they are also relatable. We have all gone through them in one way or another.
The title of the show, of course, makes reference to the fact that we don’t know what facts are. Giovanna navigates the mythology of her own family, the best she can, but she receives conflicting stories from every angle. What is real and what is truth seem to be two different things here, depending on who you are asking. It is like that in real life, and because of it, Giovanna’s learning curve in life becomes quite interesting. She is not a “normal” girl anyway, she is definitely apart from the rest of her age group, so her road is just as unique as she is.
The show places its entire weight on the shoulders of Giordana Marengo. A newcomer to the world of acting, Marengo basically shows that she can not only carry an entire show on her back, but also that she can be one of the most subtle and intense performers working right now. She has this Kristen Stewart by that is very hard to unseen and might color some of her performance on the show. In a good way, of course. Her interactions with the rest of the cast are fascinating. She makes Giovanna a very internal character, who says little but thinks and feels a lot.
Valeria Golino also makes an appearance as the wild aunt who gives Giovanna a new perspective on life. Golino is a veteran, her work in Hollywood and her beauty still follow her even now, and she still got, she is charming, beautiful, and electrifying. There was really no better choice for this character. A woman that lives trapped in the past and still has so much energy and potential for the future. The rest of the cast is equally good, even if the rest of the characters receive very little exploration. This is the Marengo and Golino show.
The Lying Life of Adults is slow, though. This is not a show that focuses on the plot. The moment-to-moment in the story is less important than the overall feeling that the story is trying to convey. As such, some people might find it boring. There are very few plot points, and the ones that are there might not grab the attention of the audience. So, if you are in for something that has more of a feeling than a moment-to-moment story, then this is the show for you.
In the end, The Lying Life of Adults is a beautifully constructed show that adapts the source material with respect and brings it to life. The performances are the strongest element in the show, with Marengo standing out as a new talent we need to keep our eyes on. While Golino is always a welcomed presence and proves that some people are just meant to be stars. The Lying Life of Adults is a show with feeling and heart, and it is one of the best ways to start 2023 with Netflix.
