My Brilliant Friend

A masterpiece. A big thank you to HBO. When I see comments like "stale" or "ugh" I actually feel sorry for the reviewers who have become so jaded by bad writing, bad acting, car chases and cgi that they missed the beauty of this story.

They understood the source material. Acting and mood also impecable

I have just finished season 1 and I loved it. It absolutely has the feel and pathos of neo-realism. All the despair, rage, and violence of post-war Italy is there that Rossellini, Di Seca and Fellini brought to their work. Every aspect of the production, the sets, the casting, the particular method of acting, the direction, gives the sense that it was filmed 60-70 years ago. The difference is that it's focus is on the inner lives of women, although the men play heavily in it as well. Because I love Italian neo-realism, I was enraptured by it. Because the story is about girls and their transformation into women under oppressive and desperate circumstances, I am all in.

This was one of the best things I have watched on HBO in a long time. So special - I couldn't get enough and was so sad when it was over. In an age when everyone is making super hero and action movies, this is so refreshing and brilliant. The characters are so well developed and almost haunting. The settings so pure and simple that it is genius. This is real storytelling at it's finest.

There are no words to describe this gem. This series hits you deeply in your heart like no other. So many authentic feelings,i was deeply moved. I've never seen such intensity,duration,acting,adaptation even in the old gems of Roberto Rossellini and Vittorio De sica.

A million thanks to the producers,the exceptional director Saverio Costanzo and director Alice Rohrwacher,the two unbelievable little girls/protagonists (i think Ludovica Nasti and Elisa del Genio),the two again unbelievable main protagonists Margherita Mazzucco and Gaia Girace,of course Elena Ferrante, and to all the crew and members of this magnificent accomplishment.