As an italian, I really appreciated so much the new Pixar movie “Luca”.
A very nice story, whose true strength isn’t the complexity of the plot, who it’s very simple but not bad, but in the awesomeness of the Italian landscape where the story is set. Although I’m not living in Liguria (where the movie is set), as a citizen of a port city I identified so much with Portorosso city, it reminded me a lot of my city and I loved it so much!
Ah, and of course, another strenght of that movie are the sea monsters!
I loved the sea creatures’ character design, in particular Luca’s and Alberto’s: they are so beautiful and cute, without being cloying or babyish.
Luca and Alberto as sea monsters reminded me so much The Little Mermaid and Ponyo, because Luca and Alberto are both fascinated by human’s world and they want to live there; and in part Luca Paguro reminded me even Pinocchio, our popular tale, because at one point, he wish to go on school and become a real boy, like the famous italian marionette, while Alberto reminded me Lucignolo (Lampwick), a little .
A perfect combination between The Little Mermaid, Ponyo and Pinocchio, but taking their own way.
I loved Luca and Alberto’s friendship, and after their friendship with Giulia, that’s a topic very dear to me.
Very poignant the finale, in connection therewith, without making spoilers.
For me, THIS is the example of true friendship.
I want to spend a little time to tell about the meaning about to be a sea monster, in the movie. I think it can be represent everything: lgbtq+ (personally, I don’t ship Luca and Alberto and I see them only as great friends, sorry ), neurodiversity, disability, immigrants, a person with different religion or philosophy, a person who thinks differently from the crowd or just a not “cool” guy, how Casarosa defined himself as a child . Everyone can see themselves in that movie.
At the end, Luca it’s a beautiful italian tale, in its simplicity and its awesomeness to tell a friendship and the acceptance.
As italian, I’m so proud of this movie, it’s a beautiful tribute to Italy, thank you Pixar, and thank you Enrico Casarosa, for made it .
Heres Alberto and Ercole spending some time together at the beach bc I love and highly headcannon them warming up to eachother as the years go on and becoming friends. *sigh* the things I’d do for an Ercole redemption arc……
