Series synopsis
My Brilliant Friend, also known as L'amica geniale is an Italian drama television series that premiered on Rai 1 on November 27, 2018. It ended on December 9, 2024. It was created by Saverio Costanzo, Elena Ferrante. It stars Margherita Mazzucco, Anna Rita Vitolo, Luca Gallone and Valentina Acca.
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.
Premise
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.
Premise: A friendship that defined a lifetime.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Margherita Mazzucco as Elena Greco
- Anna Rita Vitolo as Immacolata Greco
- Luca Gallone as Vittorio Greco
- Valentina Acca as Nunzia Cerullo
- Antonio Buonanno as Fernando Cerullo
- Antonio Milo as Silvio Solara
- Alessio Gallo as Michele Solara
- Francesco Serpico as Nino Sarratore
Supporting cast
- Irene Maiorino as Lila Cerullo
- Fabrizio Gifuni as Nino Sarratore
- Federica Sollazzo as Pinuccia Carracci
- Eduardo Scarpetta as Pasquale Peluso
- Giovanni Amura as Stefano Carracci
- Gennaro De Stefano as Rino Cerullo
- Dora Romano as Miss Oliviero
- Matteo Cecchi as Pietro Airota
- Imma Villa as Manuela Solara
- Mirko Filippi as Spettatore
Guest cast
- Gaia Girace as Lila Cerullo
- Alba Rohrwacher as Older Elena (voice)
- Michele Di Costanzo as Pino Sarratore
- Federica Guarino as Clelia Sarratore
- Gioele Maddi as Ciro Sarratore (newborn)
- Alessandro Nardi as Nino Sarratore
- Maria Rita Roberto as 4th Child Peluso (2 years old)
- Giuseppe Sannino as Cappuccio's father
- Antonio Pennarella as Don Achille Carracci
- Valentina Arena as Jolanda
- Gennaro Canonico as Alfredo Peluso
- Michele Capone as Policeman
Episodes
This series spans 4 seasons with 34 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 8 | November 27, 2018 | December 18, 2018 |
| Season 2 | 8 | February 10, 2020 | March 2, 2020 |
| Season 3 | 8 | February 6, 2022 | February 27, 2022 |
| Season 4 | 10 | November 11, 2024 | December 9, 2024 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Dolls The disappearance of her old friend, Lila Cerrullo, causes 60-year-old author Elena Greco to reflect on the early days of their friendship in 1950s Naples, when Elena and Lila are two very different girls at the top of their class. When the girls discover the lair of Don Achille, a criminal figure who controls the neighborhood, they decide to confront him. |
November 27, 2018 |
| 2 |
The Money As fourth grade draws to an end, Elena and Lila fight with their families for the chance to continue their education. Later, a trip out of town becomes a day Elena will never forget, and a death changes things in the neighborhood forever. |
November 27, 2018 |
| 3 |
The Metamorphoses Now a teenager, Elena grapples with the onset of puberty, her studies, and her friendship with Lila, who now works in her family's shoe-repair store. After a library awards ceremony reveals what Lila has been keeping secret, Elena learns what her friend's grand plans might be. Lila takes a stand against the dangerous Solara brothers. |
December 4, 2018 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The New Name With Lila on her honeymoon on the Amalfi Coast, Elena struggles to handle school and her relationship with Antonio. When Lila returns with visible bruises on her body, the two girls revert to their natural closeness and Lila’s will to take revenge against her husband grows. Elena continues to be bewitched by Nino Sarratore’s charisma but chooses not to mention him to Lila. |
February 10, 2020 |
| 2 |
The Body Elena's relationship is threatened when Antonio discovers she has asked the Solaras' help to keep him from doing military service, while Lila remains rebellious in her marriage to the often-violent Stefano. After a photo of her is exhibited at a wedding dress shop in the center of town and becomes the subject of much gossip, Lila makes a bet with Elena about how the whole affair will end. |
February 10, 2020 |
| 3 |
Erasure Upset that her picture is featured prominently in the new shoe shop Stefano is opening with the Solaras, Lila comes up with a creative solution to deal with the matter and enlists Elena’s help. Though Lila begins working at the Caraccis’ new grocery store, she continues to resent her husband’s business activities and the source of their income. Model student Elena invites Lila to a party at her teacher Ms. Galiani’s house; there, the two girls become acutely aware of the fact that they belong to ever more distant worlds. |
February 17, 2020 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Indecencies After Nino's unexpected appearance at her book presentation in Milan, Elena realizes her childhood crush never really abandoned her, and doubts begin to form about her fiance Pietro. Later, a scathing review leaves Elena questioning herself as a writer. |
February 6, 2022 |
| 2 |
The Fever A nervous Elena introduces Pietro to her family, and, though he instantly charms his future in-laws, Immacolata rejects their plans for a civil wedding ceremony. Months later, Lila falls ill due to the deplorable conditions at the Soccavo factory and makes Elena promise to take care of her son Gennaro if anything happens to her. |
February 6, 2022 |
| 3 |
The Treatment Concerned about Lila's worsening health, Elena seeks advice from her future mother-in-law Adele, who encourages her to write an expose on the Soccavo plant and the mounting unrest between rival unions. After several doctors' visits, Lila becomes determined to move back to the neighborhood despite being viewed as a pariah. |
February 13, 2022 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Separation Elena considers moving back to Naples after being chastised by both Immacolata and Adele. Lila shares shocking news about Nino. |
November 11, 2024 |
| 2 |
Dispersion Unable to forgive Nino’s betrayal, Elena takes Dede and Elsa to stay in Milan with Mariarosa and Franco. Following a tragic event, Elena gives in and moves into Nino’s place in Via Petrarca. |
November 11, 2024 |
| 3 |
Compromises On a visit to the neighborhood for the first time in years, Elena attempts to make peace with Immacolata and learns that her mother has been unwell. Later, when Elena and Nino return from a trip to New York, she and Lila grow closer after revealing that they’re both pregnant. |
November 18, 2024 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | Rai 1 |
|---|---|
| First aired | November 27, 2018 |
| Last aired | December 9, 2024 |
| Runtime | 57 minutes |
| Status | ended |
| Schedule | Monday at 21:00:00 |