The director spoke to Disney News in late April 2021 and shared that he grew up in Genoa with his real-life best friend, also called Alberto.Ĭasarosa said, “My best friend Alberto was a bit of a troublemaker, (while) I was very timid and had a bit of a sheltered life - we couldn’t have been more different. In another press event, Casarosa emphasized, “I was really keen to talk about a friendship before girlfriends and boyfriends come in to complicate things.” For the uninitiated, the film is inspired by the childhood experiences of Casarosa himself. “I love Luca’s (Guadagnino) movies, and he’s such a talent, but it truly goes without saying that we really willfully went for a pre-pubescent story,” he said. “This is all about platonic friendships.” The Disney and Pixar collaboration has also been compared to Luca Guadagnino’s 2017 film ‘Call Me by Your Name.’ However, in an interview with Yahoo Entertainment in February 2021, director Enrico Casarosa clarified that ‘Luca’ is not a queer story. ‘Luca’ has received a lot of love as the film highlights acceptance of people who might be different. Well, we are here to put your doubts to rest.
So, we can see why the animated film has got people wondering if ‘Luca’ might be a queer love story. However, Luca and Alberto must keep their identity a secret since the coastal town of Portorosso does not like sea monsters, and exposing their true selves could put their lives in danger.