Photo Credit: Groenlandia / Album
Let’s explore the bond between Lidia Poët and Turin. The Law According to Lidia Poët is a Netflix TV series consisting of six episodes, released in 2023. It has been highly successful across many countries worldwide. The second season premiered in October 2024, and soon after, Netflix confirmed that the series had been renewed for a third season.
The show is set in Turin and the surrounding areas, as the protagonist was born in Piedmont in 1855.
Who was Lidia Poët ?
Lidia Poët in a period portrait (Commons Wikimedia public domain)
Lidia Poët was an extraordinary woman and one of the first female lawyers in Italy. She fought for women’s right to practice law and to vote. Until 1876, women were excluded from university education in Italy. In 1878, Lidia began her law degree at the University of Turin, and in June 1881, she graduated with top marks.
Her request to register as a practicing lawyer, followed by her subsequent disbarment, sparked a fierce debate among contemporary politicians and intellectuals. The case of Lidia Poët attracted widespread media attention, even outside Italy.
Her brother Enrico was also a lawyer with his own private practice. While waiting for permission to practice independently, Lidia worked as his assistant.
It wasn’t until 1919 that women were granted the legal right to practice law. Lidia was 65 years old when she was finally able to work as a lawyer!
She devoted her life to her work, never marrying or having children. She passed away in 1949, just a few years after another of her battles was won: the first national election in which Italian women could participate, held in 1946. This institutional referendum abolished the monarchy and established Italy as a republic
The resonance of the series
The Mole Antonelliana is the landmark of Turin. In 1883, the building was not yet completed. In the city skyline shown in The Law According to Lidia Poët, the spire is missing.
The Netflix show is not intended to be a biopic. In fact, Lidia’s surviving relatives have strongly criticized the portrayal of their ancestor. In the series, Lidia (played by Matilda de Angelis) appears far more relaxed and brash than would have been typical for a polite young woman of the 19th century. Additionally, the soundtrack does not align with the period, sounding very modern.
Despite the historical inaccuracies, this captivating and intriguing crime drama may inspire some viewers to learn more about the real Lidia Poët and visit Turin.
If you’d like to explore some of the locations in Turin featured in the show, check out the next article.