My Brilliant Friend, episode 1, review: ‘The Dolls’ gives Elena Ferrante’s novels a faithful, cinematic treatment

Get our free weekly email for all the latest cinematic news from our film critic Clarisse Loughrey Get our The Life Cinematic email for free Get our The Life Cinematic email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Few books have captured the zeitgeist with such imagination as Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan novels. The four novel saga is an exploration of the lives of everyday people living through turbulent decades of Italian history, following the lives of Elena and Lila, whose friendship spans from the postwar period to the present day, set against the scenic backdrop of Naples. Plan auto-renews until cancelled Try for free Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days New subscribers only. As a novel, My Brilliant Friend can be a difficult beginning, as it’s largely based around the girls as children, and their lives have not yet ventured outside of the confines of the unnamed neighbourhood.