I don't have Disney+ so I had to look up the plot and ending. This movie subverted expectations in the best way. Love that and this film will touch a lot of people.
I’m personally not someone to rewatch movies back to back but I saw Luca again the day after the first time I saw it. Luca is honestly better queer representation than all of the “official gay representation” of Disney and Pixar films combined lol.
I re watched right after I finished it 😅 ... I Enjoyed The representation. I just wish they confirmed the relationship some how , it would validate so many lgbt peoples situations
Not only is Giulia a great ally, she is also just so, so sweet when Luca wants to learn more She doesn’t groan at his ignorance She doesn’t look frustrated She’s just sharing excitement And at the time period of this movie, everything she’s teaching him is common knowledge. She knows they’re runaways, she recognizes they dress different, and don’t have a place to stay. She’s probably assuming that they’re poor and she willingly gives Luca a tool to learn more. I just think Giulia was written so well, and I was happy to see a character like that in a family movie.
I loved when Luca said to Alberto "but, how will I know you're okay?" And you can see Alberto's chest go down, like he breaths out in (kind of) shock and it broke my heart. You can see him break and lose his strong and joking mask
I remember when people were begging for Elsa to be lesbian so that we could have a representation in a major animated movie, but now that I've seen Luca, I think that this movie's approach is much better I, as a part of the LGBT community, was able to see myself in the main characters of this movies, even though there was no romance involved, and I think this is something truly special for a children's movie to achieve
There should be more innocent homosocial stories! What I liked best about Luca was that it wasn't romantic, and it wasn't platonic either. It was just innocent.
I remember in one of the books, Elsa something along the lines of "I have you (Anna), Kristoff, Sven, Olaf and the people of Arendelle, I don't need to find someone like that (romantic/Boyfriend/Girlfriend)" I don't remember the exact quote, but what I get from it is that Elsa is Ace or Aro
"I pissed off a lot of homophobic trolls in the process.... LET'S DO IT AGAIN!!" LMAO i hit that like button SO FAST 😂😂 Thank you so much for this video, it really resonated with me, as well as the movie itself :')
Also, her dad acting kinda like a father figure to one of the boys since that kid didn't have a father figure was absolutely adorable and I will forever see it like a straight friend's parent taking a gay kid in after the gay kid has unaccepting parents or no home to go to. No I will not take criticism
I'm a lesbian, my two best friends are bi and another good friend is pan, they came out to me before I was able to come to terms with myself about my sexuality, so I was the ally "straight" friend for a couple of years. That way, I related to Giulia in this movie (she being queer or not), just about how she offered her treehouse for them without blinking or how her face changed at the "my parents were gonna send me away"... I've been there, giving support and love even if I didn't understand their struggle completely at the time. Queer allyship is so important, be nice and have compassion and love for people no matter how they identify themselves. Be there for your friends, queer or not, and they'll be there for you.
Similar story with me, I have a couple friends who are members in lgbtq. One bi, one pan, and a couple of lesbian. I am still straight but support them all fully
A thing I really liked in the movie was between Guilia's dad and Alberto. You can just see the father/son bond happening between them without there being much talking and when in the end when the dad walked up to them both as seamonster, Luca was prepared for the unaccaptance but Alberto had fear and sadness in his eyes. Fear/sadness that he would lose another father/father figure in his life just for being himself. The fact that the dad didn't even give a second to think if he should go look for him, no right when he heard Alberto left he straight away went to get his stuff to find him. I just love the bond between the two and the acceptance Alberto got from a father figure.
Yeah, that was so wholesome it reminded me when my low key homophobic parents when my friend came up as gay, the first thing they asked is how they parents took it and if he is ok, and that reveal really changed their mind, it is really different when they know them as a person first and then came to know than they are queer, because that shatter the notion than sea monsters or queer people are an strange and dangerous other, and are just people
I also love the "I'm about to identify as a fucking problem" look Guilia's dad gives the other monster hunters when they seem like they might still be going after Alberto.
I was afraid that Giulia and Luca's relationship was going to become more than friendship. I thought they were going to use Giulia to inject heterosexuality into a film so parents/censors wouldnt be mad. I'm so glad that's not the case and that this movie about young queer kids didn't need romance at all. I love and crave stories about strong queer friendships.
@@Mafiaboii06 I should add that fantasy movies that deal with prejudice/discrimination ALWAYS are inspired by or are very obvious allegories for real life discrimination and history. It's important to know history and social issues so you can pay attention to this kind of messaging. You're going to learn some kind of lesson from a Pixar film--it helps to know where to apply that lesson.
@@cupboardgods I kinda thought this movie was about friends being there for each other no matter how different they are but I really dont see Alberto and Luca as a queer couple at all neither with juliet but hey is probably just me
@@UwUchan444 same. i tried to look out for the gay subtext but didn't really see it. maybe a bit in Alberto's jealousy when Guila and Luca hang out more, but that's typical petty kids stuff as well. If ppl saw it another way then it's acceptable, but i think it's clear this was not the writers intention. there are just things that gay ppl can relate to since this movie is also themed around not hiding who you really are.
Queer representation is not simply about showing queer relationships. Queer representation is about showing queer experiences. This movie was all about a queer experience and that’s what makes it queer even without having explicitly queer people or queer relationships. Studios can put as many queer side characters in their films as they want, but it is not representation unless they show the experiences of those characters.
I had watched a few reviews of Luca saying that the story was a little weak and that the stakes were a low, but upon watching I can't agree. There were so many levels to this movie and I enjoyed it so much. Honestly, I would say it's one of my favorite Pixar movies in a while. Also on another note, one review noted how it was weird that the parents were dumping water on children to see if they were sea monsters as their actions would not only reveal Luca but also put him in danger. But if you think about the film as queer allegory, there are parents who purposely out their kids as a means of controlling them and keeping them from danger while simulatenously putting them in danger and stripping their choice of choosing when and where to come out. What the parents were doing was in a way similar to what Alberto did near the end. Anyway this movie was great, I still can't stand Disney as a company, but this movie was great.
Beyond the Trailer had a take like that. She said she felt like it was missing a lot of the emotional impact that Pixar movies usually have for her and that not a lot happened. She literally accused it of just copying and pasting the Little Mermaid of all movies... I just don't think it's a coincidence that she also missed 100% of the queer allegory. It's almost like the movie doesn't work without it.
I honestly like it better because of how simple it is on the surface, but it has so much depth and it feels so real i can't help but love it. I had a blast watching it
my worst fear was that the movie would try to do some tired, dumb love triangle between Luca, Alberto and Giulia. I was expecting Luca to ''fall'' for Giulia, making Alberto upset, and then having the rest of the movie be ''which one will Luca choose''. But nope, i'm overjoyed that Giulia stayed as just a friend to both of them, and nothing got in the way of Luca and Alberto's affections : )
EXACTLY! Going into this movie with all the queer discourse surrounding it I never expected it to be OUTWARDLY gay, but I DID get the impression from the trailers that they might try to make a romance between Luca and "The Girl" (Julia) and I was really SCARED that's where it was going
I like how there were already two elder women in the town and when they saw Alberto and Luca they came out. Telling older queer people that it's never too late to find out who you are and that made me really happy.
The movie felt nostalgic to me based on the animation style and how similar it is to La Luna. It is interesting to know that the same animator (s) for La Luna worked on this film. Funny enough the school uniforms Luca and Giulia reminded me of the blue school uniforms from the new adventures of Madeline.
I like the scenes with Massimo. How he is all tough and grumbling monster hunter in the beginning, but then opens up more and starts caring about them. I especially like the scene where he explains his missing arm, that it wasn't an accident, that he was just born that way. That mindset seems perfect to springboard off of onto being accepting of how others are born.
I loved when Giulias father went to look for Alberto, he was carrying the hat he wore almost the entire movie. In the ending scene, Alberto’s wearing that hat, so the father must have given it to him, showing that he truly accepted him as his son. Idk, i liked that
*PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THIS IS NOT TRUE, IT IS JUST A THEORY* Now, i have a feeling the creator had lied that this wasn’t a lgbtq movie so all homophobic countries AND Disney wouldn’t find out and get mad. Heres some more details: Disney and pixar a different studios, but part of the same company, Disney decides whether or not to put PIXARS movie towards their audience. I think that the creators if the movie wanted to make a lgbtq but very discreetly, so the whole time during the making if the movie, they had to lie that is was about the directors childhood, rather then a queer written story. Once it was published and people said that they have a concept that the movie is about queer struggles etc. Creators had to say that is wasnt so that disney and homophobic states and countries wouldnt get upset, and disney losing its veiwers, because we all know that disney isnt really about making a movie to comfort other communities like lgbtq, there more money.
It's sad that some people have a problem with others having a different opinion or think its wrong for someone to find their own way to relate to characters. Hell, as an African American, growing up I had to try and find ways to relate to characters that looked different, moved different within society. Art is meant to be interpreted by the individual observer regardless of the creators intention and different people with different life experiences will have different interpretations.
Wow, I hadn't considered how relevant this film could also be to POC! I'd also like to say as an autistic person, that I strongly related to the allegories in the movie too. Having to hide your true self for fear of not getting accepted or trying to "fit in" with people that are different to you can sadly make sense to a lot of different groups, but at least makes it so this movie has such a beautiful message to give so many different people. Even before I saw videos like this, I also noticed the strong queer allegory too, including the whole "coming out" scene. One of my favourites out of many of the modern movies.
you nailed exactly what irked me about the director's knee-jerk response.. pixar: "the story is a metaphor for feeling 'different’" media: "gee, seems like an allegory that an LGBTQ+ audience (both adults and children) should really be able to relate to” casarosa: "no. get your minds out of the gutter, these characters are just innocent kids" i didn't see a single interviewer ask/imply any "romance", but he just couldn't wait to jump at the opportunity to get it twisted and demonstrate his ignorance (or else he's deliberately stigmatizing/gaslighting, which is maybe the only possible way to be even more toxic)..
@@flysoup3607 someone clearly didn't read/comprehend the thread, so i'll explain it again for you niiiiiiiice and sloooooow: lgbtq+ identities don't begin and end with sex/romance.
Honestly, i think it was nice that the boys would cling onto each other and not pull or flinch away like in other movies, it could really show kids that its alright to hug or touch your homies without them feeling like they’re ‘less manly’ in doing so! Though i gotta admit, even if the creators of pixar said the movie isn’t gay, Luca and Alberto still seems adorable together to me 🥺
I liked 'Luca' :) Not as much as 'Inside Out' or 'Finding Nemo', but still quite a bit. Probably because it takes place in Italy, and I'm Italian :) It was lovely to see all the little things that Pixar got right about Italy, from the diverse way the buildings are painted and structured to the pasta to the copper pots in Giulia and Massimo's kitchen. It felt like non-Italians could take a little peek in what a typical Italian town, whether it's by the sea or further inland, is like; and Italians like me can smile with familiarity. The familiarity aside, it is a very beautiful film with plenty of vivid colors, and the artist in me just sits there in awe. I also liked the characters, from Luca's wide-eyed innocence to Giulia's tomboyishness to, yes, Ercole's inflated self-importance (yes, I know he's a bastard, but he's a bastard that I love to laugh at; and not just because his attitude towards his Vespa much reflects how Italian men actually treat their cars and/or motorcycles XD). They felt like real pre-pubescent kids, not what Hollywood THINKS kids are like. I would have loved to have a friendship like that when I was their age. I admit, though, that I have one main problem with 'Luca': the fact that Portorosso accepts the sea monsters so easily. Don't get me wrong, it's heartwarming and all, but it just felt indulgent, too. Luca's parents, however strict and paranoid they were, still strongly believed that the 'land monsters' were deadly and that their boy had to be kept away from the surface in order to stay safe. And they're not the only ones. Aside from the grandmother character, and the two old ladies in the town, that seems to be the general consensus: humans are dangerous, so let's give them a wide berth. And yet, the town accepts Luca and Alberto with little fuss (except for Ercole because he's a bigot). Even Massimo, who is a sea monster hunter, accepts them easily enough. Don't get me wrong, it was well-done in his case because he got to know Luca and Alberto and was thus able to look past their 'monstrous' appearance. But the rest of the town follows suit, just like that? You're telling me that an entire species of intelligent life lived in hiding for who knows how long, when really there was no need? It just feels so sugar-coated. I feel like 'Ratatouille' did it better: we see, very clearly, that humans hate rats. And yet, Remi and Linguini are able to forge a partnership (and, later, friendship) based on mutual benefit. Prejudices and barriers have to be overcome. But in 'Luca', aside from Ercole, no one seems to have any real problems with sea monsters. Now, don't get me wrong. I didn't want to see a witch hunt. I didn't want to see the town break out into 'Savages' or 'Kill the Beast' and grab whatever makeshift weapons they could find. But a bit more of a conflict would have made the happy ending feel more earned. This is simply my opinion, though. If you disagree, then I respect your right to do so. Overall, I give the film a 7/10.
Interesting take! I'd love to play devil's advocate for why the town may have responded like it did! It seems like no one has seen sea monsters for a possible two generations. People tend to get desensitized to things violent from the past after a generation or so (a sad thing) and that means folks can become somewhat aloof. The only real "hunters" in town seemed to be the father (who gives a feel of a kid raised by a fanatic to hunt and just became a fisherman to pay the bills. Maybe his obsession is why he is divorced.) And the villain. Which I'm glad someone enjoyed! It seems like its all tall tales and a way to bring in tourists. Like Bigfoot and Mothman in America. So when finally faced with, not only the prospect of sudden, bloody violence, the realization that these were children, I think the general human response would have been to turn away. At first, the instinct to fight kicked in but the moment that they had an out, everyone took it. I think general human nature isn't physical violence and this reflected well in the film. I also personally really didn't like how unrealistic the response to the bad kid was myself. But that's also my own person opinions and just a thought to throw in. Really liked reading your comment! Hope you only get respectful replies!
@@voidtrotter Thank you for playing the devil's advocate in a respectful way :) I admit that I am something of a cynic and a misanthrope, so maybe that's why the town's rapid acceptance of the sea monsters doesn't sit well with me. But! I recognize that it is merely my opinion, and your explanation does make sense :) Good job!
Biromantic Demi here, and I love this film and had some strong feelings about how Giulia's dad bonded with the two, especially Alberto. Not to mention Giulia's whole friendship with them. Definitely read the entire film as a queer allegory, and I nearly cried at the ending.
Okay, an actual discussion comment this time, haha. On the allies standing for marginalized groups first and foremost part. It really did make me think about how Ally-ship shifts. When I'm at Pride, it's my straight friends and family that make a point to be there for me. At a BLM protest, I make sure I'm the part of the barrier because I know being perceived as a small disabled white woman (I'm trans-masc nonbinary) puts me at an advantage above those I came to be there for. At a protest for teachers, we protect them. It doesn't matter how we perceive ourselves one day because one day we need the ally and some days we are the ally. I dunno, it just gave me a nice feeling to realize at the end of the day, when we really involve ourselves in our community, we really do need one another. I think covid has me sappy. Great video! Edit: If your take away from my comment is to come and argue politics and about whether BLM is wrong or not (the hell???), not only did you entirely miss the point of my comment, I will not engage you.
It’s so bittersweet. They are all happy and going off to places that they want to be but the bond that we see between Luca and Alberto the entire way through really comes to a peak at the end when we see how much they will miss each other 💔💔
I like what's been coming up more and more that "I don't need allies. I need accomplices." Co-conspirators and saboteurs are the better benchmark than simply being an "ally."
yes!!! the story being queer doesn't mean Luca and Alberto have to be a couple. I'm especially peeved when people say we are "sexualizing" children by saying Luca tells an inherently queer story. Being queer is so much more than sexual or romantic relationships.
Finding someone who understands you is something so special. Instead of the grander stories where the hero has to save the world, in this the main character has to find people that accept and understand them. I'm struggling with the same thing, so this movie was a lot more relatable and personal.
I think that this movie is more intended to be a story about friendship, but it definitely was queercoded, wether it be intentional or unintentional. It was most likely unintentional. Also the line that the grandmother said was DEFINITELY read to me as an allegory for queerness. The thing that upsets me about how people are reacting is then being like “BRO WHY DIDNT THEY KISS IM SO MAD HBHNGNGVHGGBGBG” like dude- calm down. Calm the heck down. The movie is about friendship. Sure it has a queer allegory, but it’s still about FRIENDSHIP.
@@pompe221 well, not in here southern Europe lol but yes, I'm happy that this is about friendship and how there isn't any romántic interést between the 3 of them. Just kids discovering life and making friends, leaving the fear behind
I would love to (maby) see an animated short , where Luca and Alberto are in their early 20s and they travel the world together on a moped . to confirm their gayness, idk I just wish they gave us some way of confirmation about their gayness. It would make me so happy and would be a nice resolution to Luca and Albertos storyline. (Obviously if they’re trying to do a sequel this won’t happen . But I would just love to see this ! It would cheer me up and make me so happy)
The first 20 minutes of the movie made me so confident that Luca and Alberto were in love. He literally had a dream sequence of riding through a sunflower field with him. Tell me that's not romantic. And when Giulia showed up I was so upset because I really thought she was going to ruin the queerness. But she didn't. And she and her dad turned out to be allies. And I loved it.
I also really love the found family trope. Many queer people struggle with having paternal figures due to losing theirs, so seeing a found family trope is great
The resolution felt very true to a lot of the working class and queer family dynamics I've encountered IRL. Giulia and Massimo remind me of the Ride or Die allies who might not "get it" but still care so much that they won't tolerate other people's BS.
A lot of us quite accurately felt the allegory about luca during its initial trailer. We're also vindicated in the fact that despite romance not being the intention at all, it's still a story about connections and the shifts they experience when something different is part of the equation. It's valid to say the opinion that we deserve more rep for both male affectionate and non-toxic masculine relationships, but understand that us queer folk are just a human as what society seems normal. We can live in and experience just as much as anything that society as a whole experiences. Any relationship is just as valid, familial, friendship, romance (also romance isn't always strictly about the concept of a pair being a couple) so the relationships shown in the movie doesn't necessarily require this much discourse about how a subjective view is wrong or not.
Indeed. I LOVE close, and intimate friendships in movies. As just a movie watcher and someone on the AroAce spectrum. And I ESPECIALLY love it when it's between two men or boys. As it actively breaks down stereotypes and is something we desperately need. But you can most certainly have that in a movie that is NOT a queer allegory. And it's kinda a shame that the first thing that "fits the bill" for a wonderful male friendship in media in a bit was HEAVILY queercoded. Because since it resonates with me so much, it is so difficult to view it in any other light but a queer one.
9:59 my heart at that moment. Because you see the betrayal on Alberto's face, Luca realizing what he had done (he kept at it) and the fact that Alberto was now in mortal peril. Also, you can actually see that in life. 11:00 I didn't realize that part. Huh.
The best thing about this movie is that it can be easily be interpreted in many different ways regarding multiple minorities. The story is simplistic, but can be analyzed to create a realistic message.
This is so amazing for me, I can relate with her character so much from her name to her personality, and I’m also an ally, I’m proud to help all my friends LGBTQ+ find comfort and support, Giulia is very special to me
I really liked Luca. It gets very close to being the same teir as Inside Out and Coco for me. Not quite there, but still close. There was a lot I expected before watching it and while watching it that didn’t come to pass. It didn’t impact my enjoyment of the movie tho. I knew the town had a sea monster hunting history but it wasn’t as played up as I thought it would be, even with Luca’s mom and her warning him of the danger. No killed family members or friends, no stories of encounters and/or losses from the past, nothing. I thought there would be more to Alberto’s father, and the Bruno phrase. Maybe his father had been killed or separated from him. Maybe his father was named Bruno and was like Luca’s mom, forbidding him from going to the surface. Or Bruno was Alberto’s real name or a nickname and he used to be less adventurous and brave I loved the sea monster designs and their segments in the water, I knew nothing about Giulia and ended up really liking her, Massimo is a big teddy bear!, and Ercole is a _spectacle,_ he was a hilarious antagonist.
I saw Luca after I heard some people telling me, it was going to be at least a little gay. And ho boy, was it gay! Honestly, I loved it! It was a fresh of breath air that really stuck with me. Luca and Alberto's scene really stuck with me since I heavily related to Alberto, and the betrayal he feels. Do I think everyone is going to love it as much as I do? God no, I just really like having a movie where I can feel seen..
Luca is a beautiful slice-of-life story. And after we missed out on any bear-to-human and human-to-bear transformation sequences in Brave, the abundance of transformation sequences in Luca were a godsend!
Boyyy, did I cry my heart out. The queer allegory was so strong, it brought me so many memories of my teenage years, discovering myself, feeling like I connected with other queer kids only to be rejected due to their own internalized queerphobia, fearing my parents' love was truly conditional and such
Luca is definitely one of my new favorite movies ever, this was better queer story-telling and representation than the last 7 "disney's first openly gay character"'s combined. All three of the kids' storyline hit so close to home for me and I was hard-sobbing by the end (good tears!). I really wish this movie was playing in theaters, I would've gone to see it multiple times if I could've!!! I know the creators have said it wasn't intended to be a queer story but I really can't imagine it not being made with that intention, though I guess it could've been accidental, the queer elements are hard to ignore like you said. Happy pride month!
Great video thank you. I just watch the movie last night. Got really emotional. Cried like four times. It really him home for me. Brining back memories from way back in the day. Loved the movie!! My only complaint is that Luca left. Broke my heart that he would leave Alberto like that. You telling me there is no school there in Portarosa ? I don’t believe it.
This movie made me cry at the end, idk why but it touched my feels. But honestly this movie could be seen in a lot of ways and it definitely made it a favorite for me. I’m not lgbt myself (still support it though) but I still related to this movie. It’s easy become one of my favorites because of the feelings it gives me and many others.
Honestly I was REALLY looking forward to your take on Luca since your last essay about the film and you did not dissapoint! And.... ahhh- I ended up crying like 15 minutes after finishing Luca because the grandmother's line had me reflect all the amazing people I've met over the years who support and accept me. I have a few lines from media I have stashed in my made-me-feel-things-cuz-I'm-too-gay-to-handle-this lexicon. This line is going right next to Danny Phantom telling Vlad "my parents will accept me" from the episode Bitter Reunions. I had so much anxiety coming out as bi to my parents that hearing a character that could be applicable to bisexual person confidently say that was super comforting to me.
She is just so bloody adorable , supportive and understanding. A little detail that I loved was that she doesn’t have that button more most girls and women have in animation it’s a lil hooked and as someone insecure about my own more I loved seeing this cutie
The comment “not everyone will accept him, but some will. And he seems good at finding the good ones” (it’s not word for word but you know lol) made me ball my eyes out because as an lgbtq person it felt like my struggles were seen and understood. People don’t realise how much this movie and any movie that can be relatable for us lgbtq+ people can mean to us and honestly I think that I will treasure this media for a long time. I was so overcome with emotion with every single piece of subtext that I could relate to including what I mentioned before as well as the old lady sea monsters revealing themselves to a town that is prejudice towards that kind. Whatever Disney says about this movie I won’t deny the representation that I felt when watching this and I will be forever thankful for the existence.
When I first watched it I felt the allegory to queerness as comforting and I could tell it was there but I couldn't quite explain how it all played out to my friends when trying to convince them about it. Thank you for this video!
When I first watched the movie, I didn't notice anything mentioned in the video. I just thought it was a charming movie about friendship; but after listening to your breakdown, I can see all the hidden messages. I love how relatable/enjoyable this movie is to everyone no matter the background.
Great analysis of Giulia and Massimo. I loved how their characterizations unfolded. What are your thoughts on Hercole? He was very gay-stereotype coded. The limp wrist and wool sweater bits were the two that really stood out.
i absolutely loved this movie when i saw it (twice) and still do with all my heart!!!! my cousin and i, two trans and bi kids, saw it together when we were on a trip and it was just amazing to see how we feel portrayed on screen. my parents are like luca’s and it felt VERY validating to see also the line at the end about acceptance crushed my heart and taped it back together
Like when Ercole said to Luca and Alberto after the big reveal...that the townspeople are disgusted and horrified of them. It's something a homophobe would say.
what I just noticed about Guilia's character is that she doesn't live in Portorosso, she lives in a bigger city with her mother who is an artist (as seen in the end credits), she is not part of the close-minded town, and so she's obviously more accepting unlike the people from Portorosso who are an allegory of a homophobic town. This is similar to a person moving from a big city, filled with different people from any race, gender and sexuality, to a small town where either religion or status is important. Guilia being their friend helped other people see them not as monsters, but as people, they were more willing to cast away preconceptions that they initially had of them. And because of this, Luca and Alberto realized that not everyone would hate them for who they are and felt safer.
Even tho this movie is not about gay relationships, or gay characters, people need to realize the message means that no matter who you are, you should be accepted.
To answer the first homework question, I absolutely LOVED Luca. I disappointing thing is that everytime I try to explain why I love it so much, I’m at a loss for words. It just has an IT factor to me, like any other confort film does. And I also feel so seen by it as a queer individual.
"I came into the world like this" -One armed Dad. THAT was one of my favorite parts of a nod to Queerness Its very clear. I loved it so much it was very moving
Hi there La'Ron, I was one of the folks that found your channel through your first Luca video. I rushed to RU-vid after watching the movie because it seemed like a giant queer metaphor and I wanted to know i wasn't crazy -- this was a special moment for me because I've just celebrated my first pride/just came out and watched this movie the day after. Maybe I'm looking at it with super biased lenses because of this but either way, with my interpretation, this movie was so comforting during the anxiety of coming out. It was crazy to feel so understood and seen by a Disney movie. Anyways, wanted to thank you for all the efforts behind your videos because the ones I've seen are so professional and well done truly. As for the trolls and people who write hateful things, just know that for every negative comment there is also a positive comment. And the impact you leave on the viewers who relate and respect your work is much stronger and lasting than the momentary negative comments. Thank for all that you do!
This movie really moved me and helped give me some motivation to come out. It’s been a slow process, but I love this movie so much and it means a lot to me ❤️
I really liked this movie, and I related a lot to both boys. Luca because his parents, while meaning well, at first didn't understand him and what he wanted and needed, to a point where he thought they wouldn't even come looking for him- which made me so sad for him. And Alberto's story is very personal to me- his dad left him, and poor Alberto, who clearly loved his dad a lot, kept count for a LONG time before realizing his father wasn't coming back, and internalized being abandoned as "there's something wrong with me, it's MY fault ". His mom isn't mentioned, and I think that was intentional, a reference to those of us who are left behind after revealing our true selves. Alberto spent an unknown period of time alone- months? Years? He did say he stopped making marks, so we really don't know. I certainly had my share of people who cut me off in one way or another when I came out to them, and my dad and I still don't talk much about my queerness. I grew up in a small Mormon town, and was very afraid to come out during my childhood and teen years, to the point where I was 19 when I finally came out to someone, and I'm still stuck with feelings of shame and fear whenever I look into anything queer. So Alberto desperately clinging to the ONE person who cares about him and didn't leave ? I get that. People who accept you are treasures and it's terrifying, especially when you're first coming out, to think your allies or friends or loved ones might leave you. I liked that the movie gave both boys a happy ending, I was worried they might take a hard turn into a negative ending.
Adding to the discussion, I also loved the ending in how the two other ladies from the town revealed themselves in solidarity for Luca and Alberto. For me, I had a multitude of friends come out this pride month and as a person still closeted to my family, seeing how many of my friends who I hid myself from and how they had also hid; it reminded me of that feeling of community and understanding. And then the line that the Grandma says at the end perfectly sums it up for me. It perfectly displays this innocence that comes with a childhood understanding
I was already liking the movie and the way the allegory was playing out and then the fight happened. It made so much sense in terms of the allegory and I could recognize the conflict and all the different characters' emotions. Then the bike race and the Father's part, along with the two women unveiling themselves... I just liked it so much!
Honestly the movie Luca hit me hard at home. Because personally, when i was younger i had a friend/boyfriend who was trans, and after we've talked through message he told me he was trans. As someone who hasn't heard of LGBTQ when i was younger or never learned from it, obviously i was oblivious to what he meant by who he truly was. But now that i remembered over what happened, i felt suddenly touched. I remember telling him, " I'm not going to leave you, i know you and love you for who you are because you are still that same person i fallen for in day one. " Seeing Luca having that similar act from what my friend/boyfriend by coming out to me. I can understand better how queer folks have a hard time showing who they truly are but are scared at the same time. Now, i don't mainly find it a big deal they're a changed person or how they look like, but they are human and are scared of showing who they are. We should help them in any way possible to know They're okay and that there's good people.
English isn't my first language so i don't really know how to phrase it in a way that's concise and makes sense at the same times but bear with me pls,, It angers me so much how ignorant or homophobic people will use the "They're just friends, i hate how two boys can't be close without being seen as gay, it's toxic, it's erasing male friendships" argument to justify complete denial of the queer coding in this movie. First of all, most queer people aren't even arguing about wether or not they're a couple. The movie is first and foremost about the experience of being a young queer INDIVIDUAL, in a hostile, heteronormative world where we cannot live freely or even survive without having to hide our sexual identity. And secondly, why would a potentially romantic reading of this relationship tarnish in any way the image of friendships between boys/men? They are completely within their right to interpret them as best friends. But we queer people noticing elements of romance and jaleousy is NOT us forcing this interpretation on everyone else. Why can't the two interpretation co-exist peacefully? Why are the two always mutually exclusive especially when they're both so similar (platonic/romantic? They're KIDS ffs, there's not much difference between the two at that age)?? Why are they so afraid of Luca and Alberto's relationship being seen as queer?? Because the people making this argument feel threatened by queerness and it's implications. A lot of people have this insecurity where they always have to clarify "im not gay, it's not gay" when confronted with same-sex affection. It's got to do w homophobia and toxic masculinity etc. and yes, I agree that we have to get rid of this toxic masculinity stigma so that men can be able to be freely platonically affectionate with each other, but it's not limited to that. If you want to push this argument, you have to get to the end of it and realize that it should also include destigmatizing gay relationships and allowing them a space besides platonic friendships bc homophobia is literally the root of it. So them completely excluding a romantic interpretation while advocating for male friendship is so counterproductive and ignorant of the true issues while also contributing to the alienation of queer people. It's like we exist in our own bubble outside of mainstram media, which cannot possibly be made with us in mind. If It was a boy and a girl, peoole would've been free to interpret it as they like with no debate. Opposite/same sex relationships are literally the same in essence, be it platonic or romantic. Why is it so controversial when it's about two boys then?? It shows how queerness is still too taboo even today, and it's frustrating.
I have the fear they might turn Giulietta and Luca into a thing (or Alberto or still Luca with another girl) in a sequel or in a series in the future ... Yes, Luca and Alberto is more a queer coded relationship than a real gay love story (at least for now, they are tweens and still have to understand what love is, and the movie is based on the director's childhood friendship, who is straight and married), but giving them romantic interest would really ruin one of the beautiful subtexts (the queer one, there are others too) this movie showed I hope Mr Casarossa will see how many people interpreted the movie and Luberto's relationship, and keep the two boys as the main and most important bond for them (bromance or romance) in the future, without getting romance into play (unless if it is between them as teens 😏🤭), and giving a story to Giulia that's about both her allyship but her dreams/quirkiness more and so on
I'm really glad there wasn't elements of romance, because it's not always needed to tell a good story. and using sea monsters in place of the LGBTQIA= community is a good way to tell this story to children and adults that need to hear it, one way or another. I hope that everyone finds people like Giulia and Massimo, who will accept them whole-heartedly for who they are.
