Netflix released a new Italian limited series The Lying Lives of Adults, which is the newest adaptation of a novel by the Italian author Elena Ferrante (not her real name), and the coming-of-age series is a delight to watch. Adaptations can be a tricky thing to accomplish, especially regarding stories where the internal dialogue of the character takes the lead in the narrative. A trademark of Ferrante's stories is exactly that — the turmoil and rawness bubbling inside her characters, threatening to boil over. It's been translated through several adaptations of her work, including The Lost Daughter, My Brilliant Friend, and The Days of Abandonment.

The Lying Lives of Adults tells the story of the young Giovanna (Giordana Marengo). Giovanna hears the worst thing she ever had (in all of her short existence): her father says she is becoming just like her aunt, the troublesome Vittoria (Valeria Golino). In a search for what that means and what really happened that made Vittoria so hated, Giovanna takes matters into her own hands and meets her aunt for the first time.

Here is more about the mysterious author and her other stories to be adapted, which have some common themes that are very particular to Ferrante and may give us some clue.

Who Is Elena Ferrante?

Olivia Colman on the beach with shades in The Lost Daughter
Netflix

There is a particular question that always comes up when talking about this author: who is Elena Ferrante? The truth is that, besides her publishing company, and presumably her friends and family, no one knows. Elena Ferrante is a pseudonymous author who doesn't want to be “tied down to what could become one’s public image. To concentrate exclusively and with complete freedom on writing and its strategies.”

Ferrante also strongly believes that not knowing anything about the author of a piece leaves room for the reader to fully immerse themselves in the work, not worrying about the person who created it. All interviews made by the author, which includes Variety and The Guardian (which she wrote columns for), have been through written form and with her publishers as intermediaries.

Related: How Netflix’s The Lost Daughter Is a Modern Feminist Take On The Talented Mr. Ripley

In her collection of non-fiction essays, Fragtumaglia, she does come closer to announcing a few things about herself, something she has also done in her columns. There is even a documentary about her called Ferrante Fever, where authors, publishers and publishing companies, critics, and more discuss her works and how they construct her identity. Has anyone tried to discover who she is? Yes, they have. But going against everything the author has strong opinions about seems like stepping on a boundary that is clearly closed and should remain so. In the era of social media and constant exposure to who we are, the power of anonymity goes deeper than most may think.

Elena Ferrante's Adaptations

My Brilliant Friend
Rai 1
HBO

Elena Ferrante has written nine novels (including a children's book) plus two collections of essays, many of which have been adapted to the small and big screen. Because of the mystery surrounding the author, the viewer may not have even realized that all these movies and series were inspired by her work. The most notorious one is her four-book series, known as the 'Neapolitan Novels,' which were adapted to HBO as My Brilliant Friend. To attest to the author's success worldwide, this series alone sold over 10 million copies in 40 countries.

Another huge example of an adaptation of one of Ferrante's novels was the directorial feature debut by Maggie Gyllenhaal with The Lost Daughter, featuring an incredible performance from Olivia Colman. The movie received three Academy Award nominations, including Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Lead Actress and Best Supporting Actress. Unfortunately, it didn't win any categories – but it still received much praise from critics and audiences alike.

Related: The Lost Daughter Review: Deconstructing Mama

There are other adaptations from Ferrante's previous work, including The Days of Abandonment, a difficult story of a mother whose husband leaves her without much explanation. Unfortunately, the movie didn't receive much praise. There were talks about a new reboot with Natalie Portman by HBO, but the project didn't happen because Portman stepped down. Nasty Love, another introspective novel by the Italian author and the first one she ever published, was adapted to the big screen in 1995 and was nominated for the Palme d'Or at Cannes.

The Lying Life of Adults

The lying Life of Adults
Netflix

The newest adaptation from the mysterious author was Netflix. The Lying Life of Adults is another heartwarming story with a complex protagonist. In this tale, the audience is transported to Naples in the '90s. The protagonist, Giovanna, starts to understand the minds of the adults around her for the first time. It's a phase in her life where everything is changing, including some ideas which were previously set in stone. When insecurities about how she looks and is perceived by others become huge preoccupations, Giovanna becomes a relatable character who leads a heartfelt yet fun narrative.

There are some common elements that became a trademark for Ferrante's work. The raw and unapologetic way she describes women's loneliness, for instance, which could be too hard to bear for many viewers. There have been very few authors who've been able to express female rage as well as Ferrante has.

Stories about motherhood and the impossible expectations that society places on mothers is another subject that the author likes to dive deep into. While we only have themes to go on for her identity, one thing is certain: her stories and characters are so captivating and real (on the page and on the screen) that it's impossible to look away.