| My Brilliant Friend | |
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| Genre | |
| Created by | Saverio Costanzo |
| Based on | Neapolitan Novels byElena Ferrante |
| Written by |
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| Directed by |
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| Starring |
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| Narrated by | Alba Rohrwacher |
| Composer | Max Richter |
| Country of origin |
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| Original languages | |
| No. of seasons | 4 |
| No. of episodes | 34 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Producers |
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| Production locations | |
| Cinematography |
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| Camera setup | Single-camera |
| Running time | 43–67 minutes |
| Production companies | |
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| Release | November 18, 2018 (2018-11-18) – November 11, 2024 (2024-11-11) |
My Brilliant Friend (Italian:L'amica geniale) is aNeapolitan- andItalian-languagecoming-of-agedrama television series created bySaverio Costanzo forHBO,RAI, andTIMvision. Named after the first of four novels in theNeapolitan Novels series byElena Ferrante, the series is an adaptation of the entire literary work into four seasons.[2]My Brilliant Friend is a co-production between Italian production companies Wildside,Fandango,The Apartment Pictures, Mowe and international film groupsUmedia andFremantle.
The first two episodes of the series were presented at the75th Venice International Film Festival on September 2, 2018.[3] The first season, based on thefirst novel in the series, premiered on HBO on November 18, 2018, and onRai 1 and TIMvision on November 27, 2018.[4][5][6] In December 2018, the series was renewed for a second season, based on the second novel in the series,The Story of a New Name.[7] The second season premiered on Rai 1 on February 10, 2020, and on HBO on March 16, 2020.[8][9] The first two episodes of the second season were screened in selected Italian cinemas from January 27 to 29, 2020.[8]
In April 2020, the series was renewed for a third season, based on the third novel in the series,Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay.[10] The third season premiered on Rai 1 on February 6, 2022, and on HBO on February 28, 2022.[11][12] In March 2022, the series was renewed for a fourth and final season, based on the final novel in the series,The Story of the Lost Child.[13] The first two episodes of the fourth and final season made its world premiere at theTribeca Festival on August 20, 2024, and were presented at the19th Rome Film Festival on October 25, 2024.[14][15] The ten-episode fourth and final season premiered on HBO on September 9, 2024, and on Rai 1 on November 11, 2024.[16][17]
The following actors are credited in the opening titles of a single episode of the series:
| Season | Subtitle | Episodes | Originally released | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First released | Last released | ||||
| 1 | — | 8 | November 18, 2018 (2018-11-18) (HBO) November 27, 2018 (2018-11-27) (Rai 1) | December 10, 2018 (2018-12-10) (HBO) December 18, 2018 (2018-12-18) (Rai 1) | |
| 2 | The Story of a New Name Storia del nuovo cognome | 8 | February 10, 2020 (2020-02-10) (Rai 1) March 16, 2020 (2020-03-16) (HBO) | March 2, 2020 (2020-03-02) (Rai 1) May 4, 2020 (2020-05-04) (HBO) | |
| 3 | Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay Storia di chi fugge e di chi resta | 8 | February 6, 2022 (2022-02-06) (Rai 1) February 28, 2022 (2022-02-28) (HBO) | February 27, 2022 (2022-02-27) (Rai 1) April 18, 2022 (2022-04-18) (HBO) | |
| 4 | The Story of the Lost Child Storia della bambina perduta | 10 | September 9, 2024 (2024-09-09) (HBO) November 11, 2024 (2024-11-11) (Rai 1) | November 11, 2024 (2024-11-11) (HBO) December 9, 2024 (2024-12-09) (Rai 1) | |
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | U.S./Italy viewers (millions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "The Dolls" "Le bambole" | Saverio Costanzo | Elena Ferrante,Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci and Saverio Costanzo | November 18, 2018 (2018-11-18) (HBO) November 27, 2018 (2018-11-27) (Rai 1) | 0.242[20] and 7.458[21] | |
Writer Elena "Lenù" Greco learns that her old friend Rafaella "Lila" Cerullo has vanished. Elena records her memories of their friendship, starting from when they were both promising students in Maestra Oliviero's class in a poor Naples neighborhood in the 1950s. The two are paired up for a contest against two students from the boys' class, Elena's crush Nino Sarratore and Alfonso, the younger son of neighborhood crime boss and grocer Don Achille. The girls become friends after Elena helps Lila after another neighborhood boy, Enzo, throws stones at her. Meanwhile, Melina, a mad widow, causes disturbance with her affair with Donato, Nino's father. The Sarratores eventually move away. On a playdate, Lila and Elena impulsively throw their dolls into Don Achille's cellar and attempt to retrieve them, though are spooked and run away. Don Achille gives them money to replace the dolls, which they decide to hide. | |||||||
| 2 | 2 | "The Money" "I soldi" | Saverio Costanzo | Elena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci and Saverio Costanzo | November 19, 2018 (2018-11-19) (HBO) November 27, 2018 (2018-11-27) (Rai 1) | 0.128[22] and 6.729[21] | |
Elena and Lila buy and readLittle Women, increasingly aware of the violentCamorra-associated Solara family. The local families discuss their children continuing on to middle school. Elena's parents allow her to take the admission exam, while Lila's parents refuse to let her continue studying. Lila convinces Elena to skip school to walk to the sea, but changes her mind midway. The two are caught in a rainstorm and Elena's father hits her for the infraction. Lila temporarily stops attending school after speaking out of turn, and reappears to gift Elena a story she had written titled "The Blue Fairy". She declares her intention to take the test, but is beaten badly by her father Fernando. Elena passes the admissions exam with high marks and is congratulated by her family. The neighborhood learns that Don Achille has been murdered. Alfredo Peluso is arrested for it, despite claiming innocence. Lila suspects the Solaras' involvement. | |||||||
| 3 | 3 | "Metamorphoses"[b] "Le metamorfosi" | Saverio Costanzo | Elena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci and Saverio Costanzo | November 25, 2018 (2018-11-25) (HBO) December 4, 2018 (2018-12-04) (Rai 1) | 0.244[23] and 7.302[24] | |
Elena and her peers are now teenagers, and Elena is bothered by Lila's distance. The girls watch the Solara brothers Michele and Marcello coerce their friend Ada for a car ride and Lila declares that she will not let herself be used by them. The brothers beat Antonio, Ada's brother, for standing up for her. Elena, embarrassed to admit she is struggling with Latin, is surprised to learn from the local librarian, Maestro Ferraro, that Lila is independently learning the language. Lila gives Elena advice that helps the latter improve. At an awarding ceremony for the library, Elena realizes that Lila has been voraciously checking out library books. She goes with Pasquale, son of Alfredo and aCommunist, to give the prize books to Lila. Elena is inspired by Donato's gift of a book of poems to Melina. Lila and her brother Rino show Elena a men's traveling shoe they have secretly designed and intend to start a factory with. Meanwhile, Maestra Oliviero convinces Elena's parents to let her go to high school. | |||||||
| 4 | 4 | "Dissolving Boundaries"[b] "La smarginatura" | Saverio Costanzo | Elena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci and Saverio Costanzo | November 26, 2018 (2018-11-26) (HBO) December 4, 2018 (2018-12-04) (Rai 1) | 0.151[25] and 6.725[24] | |
The neighborhood families attend a party for the name day of Gigliola Spagnuolo, a classmate of Elena and Lila. Pasquale, Enzo, Marcello, and Stefano (Don Achille's older son, who runs the local grocery) all express interest in Lila. Marcello orders Pasquale to leave and cuts into his dance with Lila, offending Pasquale, who tries to rile up their friend group against the Solaras. Pasquale begins educating Lila on neighborhood politics and history. Elena begins high school and realizes that Nino is attending the same academy. She impresses her Greek teacher, Professor Garace. Envious of Lila, Elena agrees to date her classmate Gino. Lila and Rino continue working on their shoe. Stefano invites the neighborhood youth to a New Year's Eve party, during which the boys get caught up in a fireworks contest with the Solara brothers. Here, Lila first experiences a phenomenon she will later refer to as "dissolving boundaries". | |||||||
| 5 | 5 | "The Shoes" "Le scarpe" | Saverio Costanzo | Elena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci and Saverio Costanzo | December 2, 2018 (2018-12-02) (HBO) December 11, 2018 (2018-12-11) (Rai 1) | 0.291[26] and 6.699[27] | |
Fernando scolds Lila and Rino for daring to construct a shoe. Elena continues to excel in school and breaks up with Gino. Lila confides in Elena that she had rejected love confessions from Pasquale and Marcello. Elena, Lila, Rino, Pasquale and his sister Carmela go into the city for ice cream. Uncomfortable with the area's wealth, Rino picks a fight with a rich boy and his friends, while Marcello and Michele come to their aid. Marcello starts visiting Lila and her family; her parents approve of the courtship because of the Solaras' wealth. Elena accepts an invitation from Maestra Oliviero's cousin to spend the summer on the island of Ischia. | |||||||
| 6 | 6 | "The Island" "L'isola" | Saverio Costanzo | Elena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci and Saverio Costanzo | December 3, 2018 (2018-12-03) (HBO) December 11, 2018 (2018-12-11) (Rai 1) | 0.210[28] and 6.699[27] | |
Elena does the housekeeping for Maestra Oliviero's cousin Nella and mostly keeps to herself. Nella's English guests are surprisingly replaced by the Sarratore family, and Elena begins to accompany them on their outings. She bonds with Nino, learning that he dislikes his father and had always admired Lila. On the eve of his departure, Nino kisses Elena on the beach. On Elena's birthday, Lila finally writes back to tell her that Marcello has continued spending time with her family and giving her lavish gifts. Marcello threatens her when she attempts to return a gifted ring. Elena decides to leave early to help Lila. Later that night, Donato assaults Elena. | |||||||
| 7 | 7 | "The Fiancés" "I fidanzati" | Saverio Costanzo | Elena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci and Saverio Costanzo | December 9, 2018 (2018-12-09) (HBO) December 18, 2018 (2018-12-18) (Rai 1) | 0.318[29] and 6.974[30] | |
| 8 | 8 | "The Promise" "La promessa" | Saverio Costanzo | Elena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci and Saverio Costanzo | December 10, 2018 (2018-12-10) (HBO) December 18, 2018 (2018-12-18) (Rai 1) | 0.228[31] and 6.620[30] | |
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | U.S./Italy viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 1 | "The New Name" "Il nuovo cognome" | Saverio Costanzo | Elena Ferrante,Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci and Saverio Costanzo | February 10, 2020 (2020-02-10) (Rai 1) March 16, 2020 (2020-03-16) (HBO) | 0.148[32] and 7.099[33] |
| 10 | 2 | "The Body" "Il corpo" | Saverio Costanzo | Elena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci and Saverio Costanzo | February 10, 2020 (2020-02-10) (Rai 1) March 23, 2020 (2020-03-23) (HBO) | 0.147[34] and 6.452[33] |
| 11 | 3 | "Erasure" "Scancellare" | Saverio Costanzo | Elena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci and Saverio Costanzo | February 17, 2020 (2020-02-17) (Rai 1) March 30, 2020 (2020-03-30) (HBO) | 0.120[35] and 6.842[36] |
| 12 | 4 | "The Kiss" "Il bacio" | Alice Rohrwacher | Elena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci and Saverio Costanzo | February 17, 2020 (2020-02-17) (Rai 1) April 6, 2020 (2020-04-06) (HBO) | 0.141[37] and 6.235[36] |
| 13 | 5 | "The Betrayal" "Il tradimento" | Alice Rohrwacher | Elena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci and Saverio Costanzo | February 24, 2020 (2020-02-24) (Rai 1) April 13, 2020 (2020-04-13) (HBO) | 0.196[38] and 6.585[39] |
| 14 | 6 | "Rage" "La rabbia" | Saverio Costanzo | Elena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci and Saverio Costanzo | February 24, 2020 (2020-02-24) (Rai 1) April 20, 2020 (2020-04-20) (HBO) | 0.134[40] and 6.053[39] |
| 15 | 7 | "Ghosts" "I fantasmi" | Saverio Costanzo | Elena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci and Saverio Costanzo | March 2, 2020 (2020-03-02) (Rai 1) April 27, 2020 (2020-04-27) (HBO) | 0.159[41] and 7.110[42] |
| 16 | 8 | "The Blue Fairy" "La fata blu" | Saverio Costanzo | Elena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci and Saverio Costanzo | March 2, 2020 (2020-03-02) (Rai 1) May 4, 2020 (2020-05-04) (HBO) | 0.130[43] and 6.757[42] |
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | U.S./Italy viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | 1 | "Indecencies" "Sconcezze" | Daniele Luchetti | Elena Ferrante,Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci andSaverio Costanzo | February 6, 2022 (2022-02-06) (Rai 1)[c] February 28, 2022 (2022-02-28) (HBO) | 0.130[44] and 4.837[45] |
| 18 | 2 | "The Fever" "La febbre" | Daniele Luchetti | Elena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci and Saverio Costanzo | February 6, 2022 (2022-02-06) (Rai 1)[c] March 7, 2022 (2022-03-07) (HBO) | 0.149[46] and 4.475[45] |
| 19 | 3 | "The Treatment" "La cura" | Daniele Luchetti | Elena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci and Saverio Costanzo | February 13, 2022 (2022-02-13) (Rai 1) March 14, 2022 (2022-03-14) (HBO) | 0.124[47] and 4.940[48] |
| 20 | 4 | "Cold War" "Guerra fredda" | Daniele Luchetti | Elena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci and Saverio Costanzo | February 13, 2022 (2022-02-13) (Rai 1) March 21, 2022 (2022-03-21) (HBO) | 0.141[49] and 4.753[48] |
| 21 | 5 | "Terror" "Terrore" | Daniele Luchetti | Elena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci and Saverio Costanzo | February 20, 2022 (2022-02-20) (Rai 1) March 28, 2022 (2022-03-28) (HBO) | 0.077[50] and 4.669[51] |
| 22 | 6 | "Becoming" "Diventare" | Daniele Luchetti | Elena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci and Saverio Costanzo | February 20, 2022 (2022-02-20) (Rai 1) April 4, 2022 (2022-04-04) (HBO) | 0.049[52] and 4.589[51] |
| 23 | 7 | "Try Again" "Ancora tu" | Daniele Luchetti | Elena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci and Saverio Costanzo | February 27, 2022 (2022-02-27) (Rai 1) April 11, 2022 (2022-04-11) (HBO) | 0.108[53] and 4.294[54] |
| 24 | 8 | "Those Who Leave, Those Who Stay" "Chi fugge, chi resta" | Daniele Luchetti | Elena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci and Saverio Costanzo | February 27, 2022 (2022-02-27) (Rai 1) April 18, 2022 (2022-04-18) (HBO) | 0.074[55] and 4.112[54] |
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | U.S./Italy viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | 1 | "The Separation" "La separazione" | Laura Bispuri | Elena Ferrante,Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci andSaverio Costanzo | September 9, 2024 (2024-09-09) (HBO) November 11, 2024 (2024-11-11) (Rai 1) | N/A and 3.968[56] |
| 26 | 2 | "Dispersion"[d] "La dispersione" | Laura Bispuri | Elena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci and Saverio Costanzo | September 16, 2024 (2024-09-16) (HBO) November 11, 2024 (2024-11-11) (Rai 1) | N/A and 3.332[56] |
| 27 | 3 | "Compromises" "I compromessi" | Laura Bispuri | Elena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci and Saverio Costanzo | September 23, 2024 (2024-09-23) (HBO) November 18, 2024 (2024-11-18) (Rai 1) | N/A and 3.612[57] |
| 28 | 4 | "Earthquake"[d] "Terremoto" | Laura Bispuri | Elena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci and Saverio Costanzo | September 30, 2024 (2024-09-30) (HBO) November 18, 2024 (2024-11-18) (Rai 1) | N/A and 3.200[57] |
| 29 | 5 | "The Break"[d] "La frattura" | Laura Bispuri | Elena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci and Saverio Costanzo | October 7, 2024 (2024-10-07) (HBO) November 25, 2024 (2024-11-25) (Rai 1) | N/A and 3.619[58] |
| 30 | 6 | "The Cheat" "L'imbroglio" | Laura Bispuri | Elena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci and Saverio Costanzo | October 14, 2024 (2024-10-14) (HBO) November 25, 2024 (2024-11-25) (Rai 1) | N/A and 3.190[58] |
| 31 | 7 | "The Return" "Il ritorno" | Laura Bispuri | Elena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci and Saverio Costanzo | October 21, 2024 (2024-10-21) (HBO) December 2, 2024 (2024-12-02) (Rai 1) | N/A and 3.125[59] |
| 32 | 8 | "The Investigation" "L'indagine" | Laura Bispuri | Elena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci and Saverio Costanzo | October 28, 2024 (2024-10-28) (HBO) December 2, 2024 (2024-12-02) (Rai 1) | N/A and 3.125[59] |
| 33 | 9 | "The Disappearance" "La scomparsa" | Laura Bispuri | Elena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci and Saverio Costanzo | November 4, 2024 (2024-11-04) (HBO) December 9, 2024 (2024-12-09) (Rai 1) | N/A and 3.314[60] |
| 34 | 10 | "The Restitution"[d] "La restituzione" | Laura Bispuri | Elena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci and Saverio Costanzo | November 11, 2024 (2024-11-11) (HBO) December 9, 2024 (2024-12-09) (Rai 1) | N/A and 2.814[60] |
_in_Piazza_dei_Cavalieri_04.jpg)
Commissioned byRai Fiction,HBO andTIMvision, the first season was produced by Italian production companies Wildside andFandango and international film groupUmedia.[4] TIMvision withdrew from the project after the first season,[61] while production companiesThe Apartment Pictures and Mowe joined production for the second season.[62]
On February 18, 2020,Gaia Girace announced that she would leave the series after playing Lila in three episodes of the third season, as a new and older actress would be cast for the following episodes.[63] However, the director of the third season,Daniele Luchetti, later opted to retain Girace and Mazzucco for the duration of the season.[64]
The score of the series was composed byMax Richter.
| My Brilliant Friend (TV Series Soundtrack) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by | ||||
| Released | December 7, 2018 (2018-12-07) | |||
| Genre | Soundtrack | |||
| Length | 36:15 | |||
| Label | Deutsche Grammophon | |||
| Max Richter chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from My Brilliant Friend (TV Series Soundtrack) | ||||
| ||||
The soundtrack album for the first season was released byDeutsche Grammophon on December 7, 2018, for digital download.[65] It was preceded by the release of the single "Elena & Lila" on November 30, 2018.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Elena & Lila" | 4:53 |
| 2. | "Whispers" | 3:41 |
| 3. | "Your Reflection" | 3:35 |
| 4. | "The Days Go By" | 2:43 |
| 5. | "Interior Dialogues" | 1:37 |
| 6. | "In the Dark" | 2:30 |
| 7. | "In Spite of All" | 2:10 |
| 8. | "Brilliant Clouds" | 1:11 |
| 9. | "In Remembrance of You" | 4:57 |
| 10. | "Shimmering Clouds" | 1:15 |
| 11. | "She Was Running" | 2:08 |
| 12. | "Our Reflection" | 5:35 |
| Total length: | 36:15 | |
The first season features additional material from Richter's solo discography.[66]
All music is composed byMax Richter.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Spring 1" (from the albumRecomposed by Max Richter: Vivaldi – The Four Seasons, 2012) | Max Richter,Antonio Vivaldi | 2:31 |
| 2. | "Summer 2" (from the albumRecomposed by Max Richter: Vivaldi – The Four Seasons, 2012) | Richter, Vivaldi | 3:59 |
| 3. | "Cypher" (from the singleCypher, 2018) | 7:43 | |
| 4. | "Aria 2 – Pt. 1" (from the albumSleep, 2015) | 1:19 | |
| 5. | "Infra 5" (from the albumInfra, 2010) | 5:16 | |
| 6. | "Infra 8" (from the albumInfra, 2010) | 3:21 | |
| 7. | "Love Song (Cascade)" (from the albumPerfect Sense, 2011) | 1:02 | |
| 8. | "Organum" (from the albumThe Blue Notebooks, 2004) | 3:13 | |
| 9. | "Dream 13 (Minus Even)" (from the albumFrom Sleep, 2015) | 8:52 | |
| 10. | "Vladimir's Blues" (from the albumThe Blue Notebooks, 2004) | 1:18 | |
| 11. | "Iconography" (from the albumThe Blue Notebooks, 2004) | 3:38 | |
| 12. | "Chorale/Glow – Pt. 1" (from the albumSleep, 2015) | 2:00 | |
| 13. | "Circles from The Rue Simon – Crubellier" (from the album24 Postcards in Full Colour, 2008) | 1:04 | |
| 14. | "Dream 19 (Pulse) – Pt. 6" (from the albumSleep, 2015) | 3:17 | |
| 15. | "Interior Dreams an Idea" (from the albumHenry May Long, 2009) | 2:18 | |
| 16. | "Kierling/Doubt" (from the album24 Postcards in Full Colour, 2008) | 0:50 | |
| 17. | "Space 11 (Invisible Pages Over)" (from the albumFrom Sleep, 2015) | 5:15 | |
| 18. | "Space 17 (Chains) – Pt. 7" (from the albumSleep, 2015) | 1:08 | |
| 19. | "Space 21 (Petrichor)" (from the albumFrom Sleep, 2015) | 4:47 | |
| 20. | "Sublunar – Pt. 1" (from the albumSleep, 2015) | 1:29 |
| My Brilliant Friend, Season 2 (TV Series Soundtrack) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by | ||||
| Released | May 1, 2020 (2020-05-01) | |||
| Genre | Soundtrack | |||
| Length | 54:51 | |||
| Label | Deutsche Grammophon | |||
| Max Richter chronology | ||||
| ||||
The soundtrack album for the second season was released byDeutsche Grammophon on May 1, 2020, for digital download.[67] The soundtrack features material from Richter's solo discography.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Elena and Lila (Titles Season 2)" | 1:13 |
| 2. | "Sub Piano (MBF Version)" (from the albumInfra, 2010) | 0:49 |
| 3. | "Protest March (Pt. 1)" | 1:09 |
| 4. | "Protest March (Pt. 2)" | 2:32 |
| 5. | "Organum (MBF Version)" (from the albumThe Blue Notebooks, 2004) | 3:15 |
| 6. | "Leo (MBF Version)" (from the reissue of the albumSongs from Before, 2014) | 2:11 |
| 7. | "She Won't Answer" | 2:35 |
| 8. | "The Young Mariner (MBF Version)" (from the albumHenry May Long, 2009) | 4:06 |
| 9. | "Harmonium (MBF Version)" (from the albumSongs from Before, 2006) | 4:25 |
| 10. | "Cinema Music" | 6:28 |
| 11. | "Don't Put Sad Ideas In My Head / All By Themselves" | 3:21 |
| 12. | "Winter 2 (MBF Version)" (from the albumRecomposed by Max Richter: Vivaldi – The Four Seasons, 2012) | 2:53 |
| 13. | "Return 16 (time capsule) [Edit]" (from the albumSleep, 2015) | 9:14 |
| 14. | "moth-like stars (Edit)" (from the albumSleep, 2015) | 10:40 |
| Total length: | 54:51 | |
| My Brilliant Friend, Season 3 (Original Soundtrack) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by | ||||
| Released | March 4, 2022 (2022-03-04) | |||
| Genre | Soundtrack | |||
| Length | 29:47 | |||
| Label | Deutsche Grammophon | |||
| Max Richter chronology | ||||
| ||||
The soundtrack album for the third season was released byDeutsche Grammophon on March 4, 2022, for digital download.[68] The soundtrack features material from Richter's solo discography.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Romance I" | 1:57 |
| 2. | "Leo (MBF Version)" (from the reissue of the albumSongs from Before, 2014) | 2:11 |
| 3. | "Spring 1 (MBF Version)" (from the albumRecomposed by Max Richter: Vivaldi – The Four Seasons, 2012) | 2:32 |
| 4. | "Romance II" | 1:40 |
| 5. | "This Picture Of Us. P." (from the album24 Postcards in Full Colour, 2008) | 1:38 |
| 6. | "Sub Piano (MBF Version)" (from the albumInfra, 2010) | 0:49 |
| 7. | "Fragment" (from the albumSongs from Before, 2006) | 1:44 |
| 8. | "Romance III" | 1:55 |
| 9. | "Vladimir's Blues" (from the albumThe Blue Notebooks, 2004) | 1:21 |
| 10. | "Romance IV" | 1:39 |
| 11. | "Romance V" | 1:41 |
| 12. | "moth-like stars (Edit)" (from the albumSleep, 2015) | 10:40 |
| Total length: | 29:47 | |
| My Brilliant Friend, Season 4 (Original Soundtrack) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by | ||||
| Released | September 27, 2024 (2024-09-27) | |||
| Genre | Soundtrack | |||
| Length | 39:07 | |||
| Label | Deutsche Grammophon | |||
| Max Richter chronology | ||||
| ||||
The soundtrack album for the fourth and final season was released byDeutsche Grammophon on September 27, 2024, for digital download.[69] The soundtrack features material from Richter's solo discography.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Spring 1 (MBF Version)" (from the albumRecomposed by Max Richter: Vivaldi – The Four Seasons, 2012) | 2:31 |
| 2. | "Sub Piano" (from the albumInfra, 2010) | 0:49 |
| 3. | "An Earthquake" | 5:12 |
| 4. | "In Remembrance of You" (fromMy Brilliant Friend (TV Series Soundtrack)) | 4:57 |
| 5. | "A Comic Grotesque" | 3:58 |
| 6. | "Shadow 5" (from the albumRecomposed by Max Richter: Vivaldi – The Four Seasons, 2012) | 2:59 |
| 7. | "Summer 2" (from the albumRecomposed by Max Richter: Vivaldi – The Four Seasons, 2012) | 3:59 |
| 8. | "Organum" (from the albumThe Blue Notebooks, 2004) | 3:13 |
| 9. | "Interior Dreams an Idea" (from the albumHenry May Long, 2009) | 2:17 |
| 10. | "Summer 1" (from the albumRecomposed by Max Richter: Vivaldi – The Four Seasons, 2012) | 4:11 |
| 11. | "A Folly" | 3:12 |
| 12. | "Autumn 3" (from the albumRecomposed by Max Richter: Vivaldi – The Four Seasons, 2012) | 1:44 |
| Total length: | 39:07 | |
OnRotten Tomatoes, the first season has a 93% rating with an average score of 8.4 out of 10 based on 57 reviews. The site's critical consensus is, "My Brilliant Friend is an expansive epic that gleans rapturous beauty from the most desolate of circumstances, but it is the intimacy between the central duo – and the remarkable performances that bring them to life – that audiences will remember most vividly".[70] OnMetacritic, it has a score of 87 out of 100 based on 20 reviews.[71]Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett ofThe Guardian stated "How revolutionary it still feels to see female friendship explored onscreen in this way. It goes without saying that it takes theBechdel test and turns it intoragù."[72]
On Rotten Tomatoes, the second season has a 100% rating with an average score of 9.5 out of 10 based on 15 reviews. The site's critical consensus is, "Gorgeously shot and full of incredible performances,My Brilliant Friend's second season expands its small world with rich results."[73] On Metacritic, it has a score of 92 out of 100 based on 8 reviews.[74]
On Rotten Tomatoes, the third season has a 100% rating with an average score of 9.2 out of 10 based on 13 reviews.[75] On Metacritic, it has a score of 96 out of 100 based on 6 reviews.[76]
On Rotten Tomatoes, the fourth season has a 100% rating with an average score of 9 out of 10 based on 5 reviews.[77]
| Award | Year[e] | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ciak d'oro | 2019 | Serial Movie | My Brilliant Friend[f] | Won | [78] |
| Critics' Choice Awards | 2019 | Best Drama Series | My Brilliant Friend | Nominated | [79] |
| 2023 | Best Foreign Language Series | My Brilliant Friend | Nominated | [80] | |
| 2025 | Best Foreign Language Series | My Brilliant Friend | Nominated | [81] | |
| Diversity Media Awards | 2019 | Best Italian Series | My Brilliant Friend | Won[g] | [82] |
| Dorian Awards | 2022 | Best Non-English Language TV Show | My Brilliant Friend | Nominated | [83] |
| Globo d'oro | 2019 | Best TV Series | My Brilliant Friend | Nominated | [84] |
| Best Breakthrough Actress | Ludovica Nasti | Won | |||
| 2020 | Best TV Series | My Brilliant Friend | Nominated | [85] | |
| Gotham Awards | 2019 | Breakthrough Series – Long Form | My Brilliant Friend[h] | Nominated | [86] |
| Il Luogo della Lingua Festival | 2019 | Placito Capuano Award | Saverio Costanzo | Won | [87] |
| Monte-Carlo Television Festival | 2019 | Best Drama TV Series | My Brilliant Friend | Won | [88] |
| Nastro d'Argento | 2022 | Best TV Series | My Brilliant Friend | Nominated | [89] |
| Best Supporting Actor | Eduardo Scarpetta | Won[i] | |||
| 2025 | Icon of the Year | Alba Rohrwacher | Won[j] | [90] | |
| Best TV Series – Drama | My Brilliant Friend | Nominated | |||
| Best Actress | Irene Maiorino | Nominated | |||
| Best Actor | Fabrizio Gifuni | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting Actress | Anna Rita Vitolo | Nominated | |||
| Peabody Awards | 2019 | Entertainment | HBO Entertainment in association withRai Fiction,TIMvision and Wildside,Fandango andUmedia | Nominated | [91] |
| Premi Flaiano | 2019 | Presidency Award | Elisa Del Genio, Ludovica Nasti | Won | [92] |
| 2022 | Best Director | Daniele Luchetti | Won | [93] | |
| Premio Biagio Agnes | 2020 | Fiction | My Brilliant Friend | Won | [94] |
| Premios Ondas | 2020 | International Television | My Brilliant Friend | Won | [95] |
| RdC Awards | 2018 | Navicella TV Award | My Brilliant Friend[k] | Won | [96] |
| Serial Awards | 2021 | Scripted Series of the Year | My Brilliant Friend | Won | [97] |
| Best Lead Actor | Gaia Girace,Margherita Mazzucco | Won | |||
| Best Director | Alice Rohrwacher | Won | |||
| Best Screenplay | Elena Ferrante,Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci, Saverio Costanzo | Nominated | |||
| Best Kiss | Gaia Girace, Francesco Serpico | Nominated | |||
| Crossing Borders | Saverio Costanzo | Won | |||
| 2022 | Scripted Series of the Year | My Brilliant Friend | Nominated | [98] | |
| Best Lead Actor | Gaia Girace, Margherita Mazzucco | Won | |||
| Best Director | Daniele Luchetti | Nominated | |||
| Best Screenplay | Elena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci, Saverio Costanzo | Nominated | |||
| Best Villain | Francesco Serpico | Won | |||
| Look and Feel | My Brilliant Friend | Nominated | |||
| Shanghai Television Festival | 2019 | Best Foreign TV Miniseries | My Brilliant Friend | Nominated | [99] |
| 2020 | Best Foreign TV Series | My Brilliant Friend | Won | [100] | |
| Sichuan Television Festival | 2023 | Best Television Series | My Brilliant Friend | Nominated | [101] |
| Best Actress in a Leading Role for a Television Series | Margherita Mazzucco | Won | |||
| Best Actress in a Supporting Role for a Television Series | Anna Rita Vitolo | Nominated | |||
| Best Screenplay for a Television Series | Elena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci, Saverio Costanzo | Won |
On April 2, 2019,HBO Home Entertainment released the first season on DVD andDigital inRegion 1.[102]
