My Brilliant Friend (2018)
An Italian-language drama of rare emotional depth, tracing a lifelong friendship across the turbulent decades of postwar Naples.
My Brilliant Friend - Series Information
- Original Title: L'amica geniale
- First Air Year: 2018
- Last Air Year: 2024
- Created by: Saverio Costanzo, Elena Ferrante
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Drama
- Content Rating (US): TV-MA
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode: 57 minutes
- Number of Seasons: 4
- Number of Episodes: 34
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: Italian
- Spoken Languages: Italian
- First Air Date: November 27, 2018 (United States - TV-MA), November 27, 2018 (United Kingdom - 18), November 27, 2018 (Germany - 12), November 27, 2018 (France - 10), November 27, 2018 (Brazil - 18), November 27, 2018 (Mexico - B-15), November 27, 2018 (Spain - 16), November 27, 2018 (South Korea - 15)
- Networks: Rai 1
- Production Companies: Wildside, Fandango, The Apartment Pictures, uMedia, Mowe, Rai Fiction, HBO, Fremantle Italia, TIMVision
- Production Countries: Belgium, Italy, United States of America
- Alternative Titles: החברה הגאונה שלי (IL), L'amica geniale (IT), My Brilliant Friend: The Story of a New Name (US), De geniale vriendin (NL), A Amiga Genial (BR), Min fantastiska väninna (SE), La amiga estupenda: Las deudas del cuerpo (ES)
My Brilliant Friend - Plot
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.
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My Brilliant Friend - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Saverio Costanzo
- Elena Ferrante
Main Cast
- Alba Rohrwacher
- Anna Rita Vitolo
- Gaia Girace
- Margherita Mazzucco
- Luca Gallone
- Alessio Gallo
- Francesco Serpico
- Valentina Acca
- Antonio Buonanno
- Eduardo Scarpetta
Writers
- Elena Ferrante
- Laura Paolucci
- Francesco Piccolo
- Saverio Costanzo
Executive Producers
- Lorenzo Mieli
- Elena Recchia
- Guido De Laurentiis
- Paolo Sorrentino
- Jennifer Schuur
My Brilliant Friend - FAQs
Is My Brilliant Friend based on a true story?
My Brilliant Friend is based on Elena Ferrante's Neapolitan novel series, which is widely believed to be autobiographical in nature. Ferrante has never confirmed her real identity, but the novels draw heavily on the social and cultural landscape of postwar Naples, lending them a vivid sense of lived authenticity.
Where can you stream My Brilliant Friend?
My Brilliant Friend is available to stream on Max (formerly HBO Max) and through the HBO Max Amazon Channel in the United States. It can also be purchased digitally on Amazon Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Fandango At Home. Check JustWatch for the most current regional availability.
Who are the main actors in My Brilliant Friend?
The series stars Gaia Girace as Lila Cerullo and Margherita Mazzucco as Elena Greco, with Alba Rohrwacher voicing the older Elena. The ensemble cast also includes Francesco Serpico, Alessio Gallo, Eduardo Scarpetta, Anna Rita Vitolo, Antonio Buonanno, Valentina Acca, and Luca Gallone.
How many seasons does My Brilliant Friend have?
My Brilliant Friend ran for four seasons totaling 34 episodes. Season 1 introduced the friendship in postwar Naples (8 episodes), Season 2 was subtitled The Story of a New Name (8 episodes), Season 3 was Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay (8 episodes), and Season 4, The Story of the Lost Child, concluded the saga with 10 episodes.
Did My Brilliant Friend win any awards?
Yes. My Brilliant Friend received widespread critical acclaim and earned multiple award nominations and wins, including a Golden Globe nomination for Best Drama Series. The series was praised for its performances, direction, and faithful adaptation of Ferrante's novels, cementing its reputation as one of the finest Italian productions of its era.
What is My Brilliant Friend about?
The series follows the intense, decades-long friendship between Elena Greco and Lila Cerullo, two women who grow up in a volatile Naples neighborhood in the 1950s. Framed by an elderly Elena writing her memoirs after Lila's mysterious disappearance, the story explores ambition, class, identity, and the enduring power of female bonds.
Is My Brilliant Friend in Italian with subtitles?
Yes. My Brilliant Friend is filmed entirely in Italian, including the Neapolitan dialect spoken throughout. English subtitles are available on all major streaming platforms. The decision to film in the original language was a deliberate creative choice to preserve the authenticity of Ferrante's Neapolitan setting and characters.
Who created and wrote My Brilliant Friend?
My Brilliant Friend was created by Saverio Costanzo and the pseudonymous author Elena Ferrante. The writing team included Ferrante, Laura Paolucci, Francesco Piccolo, and Costanzo himself. The series is a co-production between HBO and Italy's Rai Fiction, with music composed by Max Richter.
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