Luca
2021 · Directed by Enrico Casarosa
Original language: English
- animation
- family
- fantasy
- drama
- comedy
The story
Luca and his best friend Alberto experience an unforgettable summer on the Italian Riviera. But all the fun is threatened by a deeply-held secret: they are sea monsters from another world just below the water’s surface.
What it’s like
Sun-bleached Mediterranean light, saturated turquoise water, and a pastel seaside town where every stone wall and fishing boat seems to hold the heat of August. The animation has a soft, painterly finish, with rounded shapes and gentle outlines that feel close to a children's picture book brought to life, and the underwater scenes shimmer with a dreamy, slightly blurred glow. The score leans on accordion, strings and plucked guitar, sounding like a warm afternoon on a piazza. Two boys on a stolen Vespa give the film its bright, breezy momentum: a summer of town games, gelato, and quiet pacing that lets small moments breathe. Its emotional register is warm and wistful, a coming-of-age story about friendship and feeling like an outsider, handled with humour and lightness. Intensity is very low: slapstick chases, a little mild peril from suspicious townsfolk, and no gore, cruelty or sexual content. It suits family viewing, a lazy summer afternoon, or anyone wanting sunny, low-stakes comfort with a generous heart.
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