Disney and Pixar’s Luca Director, Enrico Casarosa, says that the movie is all about friendship, and not romance.
In a recent press day for Disney and Pixar’s Luca, the Director Enrico Casarosa was asked if fans were reading too much into Luca and Alberto’s relationship when they ask if Luca is gay or a part of the LBGTQ+ community. In the trailer, this very much comes off as a coming of age movie. The two friends have a secret though, they are sea monsters who appear human when outside of the water. But is there another secret they have too?
No, says Casarosa, they are just friends. “It’s just a friendship before girlfriends and boyfriends come in to complicate things.” Casarosa also explains that this friendship is based on one of his true life friendships. His childhood friend, who is still a good friend, is named Alberto and was a big influence in his life growing up. Alberto pushed him to break out of his comfort zone and to, literally and figuratively, jump off cliffs. “We had a metaphor for that. Alberto was Luca’s shove off the cliff.”
“We made sure that there’s an appreciation — they’re both nerding out about the human world. So, we wanted to make sure they see each other, they bring something to each other, and that Luca is also seeing Alberto and appreciating Alberto. They’re both lonely, There’s a loneliness at the heart of it that I think is filling a void in all these kids because they feel a little bit odd and lonely.” – Enrico Casarosa
The Luca Director also goes on to explain why it was so important to him to tell a story like this. “Sometimes it is hard to have a meaningful, strong friendship.” That is something I think a lot of people can relate to. Honestly, there are enough movies about romance, so it doesn’t bother me at all that Luca is a movie about a friendship, friendship.
“There is that kind of friendship that is gonna push you into trouble, push you into change, push you into finding yourself. I also felt like it’s that moment in life when you’re leaving the bubble of your family. They’re not really seeing Luca. Grandma’s the only one who can see him a little bit.” – Enrico Casarosa
He goes on to add that the character of Giulia is the same way as Alberto and Luca — lonely. The importance of that emptiness is so the space gets filled with an important friendship. “That’s a lot of the things we talked about that felt really important to talk about in a way that, especially today.” The creators of Luca really want the audience to leave thinking, “Oh, I had an Alberto.”
So while Luca may not be gay, and the film may not be about a romance between Luca and Alberto, it is still a love letter to a lot of things, and is a movie that is very close to Director Enrico Casarosa’s heart.
“This movie is about the friendships that change us. It’s a love letter to the summers of our youth – those formative years when you’re finding yourself.” – Enrico Casarosa
Just watched 30 minutes of Pixar's Luca. WOW! I was CRACKING UP (Vespas 😂). The visuals are absolutely stunning & the story so far is beyond heartwarming – currently DYING for more! @JacobTremblay & Jack Dylan Grazer have great chemistry as Luca & Alberto right from the start.. pic.twitter.com/yPsi7Zv1QT
— Tessa Smith – Mama's Geeky (@MamasGeeky) March 27, 2021
About Disney and Pixar’s Luca
Set in a beautiful seaside town on the Italian Riviera, the original animated feature is a coming-of-age story about one young boy experiencing an unforgettable summer filled with gelato, pasta and endless scooter rides. Luca shares these adventures with his newfound best friend, but all the fun is threatened by a deeply-held secret: he is a sea monster from another world just below the water’s surface.
Luca comes to Disney+ on June 18th!
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. On Camera personality and TV / Film Critic with 10+ years of experience in video editing, writing, editing, moderating, and hosting.