Is 'The Lost Daughter' based on a book? Netflix drama is set for year-end release

Elena Ferrante's novel is the inspiration behind Netflix's upcoming psychological drama movie helmed by Maggie Gyllenhaal
UPDATED DEC 31, 2021
Dakota Johnson as Nina in 'The Lost Daughter' (Netflix)
Dakota Johnson as Nina in 'The Lost Daughter' (Netflix)

Netflix as per usual comes out with an abundance of variety in shows, movies, documentaries, stand-up comedies, and more and the year 2021 isn't any different, Although 2020 saw the world come to a screeching halt when the pandemic hit, 2021 saw a bit of relief. The entertainment world was also badly hit halting the stop of production of various new works but worry not as we are now getting our fill of brilliant watches.

From the final season of Money Heist to the much-awaited return of Sex Education Netflix has made the year a pretty good one with brand new material. So it's not a surprise when the streaming giant is set to end the year on a banging note as well. 'The Lost Daughter' is an upcoming psychological drama that is set to drop on New Year's Eve and with only a little time left, here's something you may not know.

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The movie is set near a beach and revolves around a middle-aged woman named Leda who is on vacation. But when she runs into Nina a younger mom who has a daughter, her unsettling past and trauma lead to an obsession with the two. This causes her to act impulsively, but what she does has consequences and the terror in her own mind will force her to face her past.

The premise of the Netflix movie seems quite enthralling yet familiar to a book. So is 'The Lost Daughter' based on a book? Read on to know!

Olivia Colman as Leda in 'The Lost Daughter' (Netflix)

Is 'The Lost Daughter' based on a novel?

Quite simply, yes the Netflix movie is based on the novel of the same name by the Italian novelist Elena Ferrante. The original book called 'La figlia oscura' in Italian was published in 2008.

The novel focuses on an English professor Leda who while on summer vacation becomes fascinated by Nina and her daughter, but the fascination and mere observance turn into something more. Leda herself has two grown daughters who live with their father leaving her solo during the summer. She soon becomes friendly with Nina with the latter sharing a dark secret with her, but one seemingly trivial occurrence leads to events that could destroy Nina’s family.

Olivia Coleman as Leda in 'The Lost Daughter' (Netflix)

The book explores family secrets and the ugly side of motherhood and seems like a very captivating book. Ferrante's novel has a rating of 3.81 on Goodreads.

Who is Elena Ferrante?

Elena Ferrante is an Italian novelist whose real name and identity are unknown and her professional name a pseudonym. Ferrante is the author of many books and has been writing professionally since 1992. Her works include 'La Frantumaglia', 'Troubling Love', 'Frantumaglia' and more. The four-volume work titled the 'Neapolitan Novels' is one of the biggest hits and has been adapted into a tv series along with other novels that have been made into films as well. 

The fourth book of Ferrante's Neapolitan quartet, 'The Story of the Lost Child', appeared on The New York Times' 10 Best Books of 2015 with Ferrante even being part of  TIME's 100 Most Influential People in 2016.

'The Lost Daughter' is set to release on Netflix on December 31, 2021.

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