Luca's Resilience

During and after a divorce, children are often overlooked, and important decisions are often made without their input. It is not until they are around twelve that they get the chance to have a say in their future. But even then, the problems persist.

Research shows that children of divorced parents are twice as likely to have mental health problems compared to children from a stable family. This emphasises the importance of paying attention to their well-being during and after the divorce.

I myself experienced a divorce as a child. Although I was lucky that my parents were able to continue to get along well, I have seen in my environment that this is not always the case. The difference in experiences surrounding divorce has touched me and the subject is close to my heart, especially because I know from my own experience what it is like to grow up without both parents under one roof.

In my film Luca's Resilience, I focus on twelve-year-old Luca. By putting him centrally, I want to show children that they are not alone in their experiences. At the same time, I want to show parents the impact that divorce can have on their children. The story is told from Luca’s perspective, sharing his feelings and experiences surrounding the divorce. These feelings and experiences are reflected in his behavior and the choices he makes, making the profound impact of the divorce on his life clear.

With this film, I hope to offer support to children who are currently going through a divorce or have experienced it in the past. In order to make the story of Luca’s Resilience as realistic and authentic as possible, I spoke to several people who have experienced divorce up close. These conversations gave me a deeper insight into the emotional and psychological impact that divorce can have on a child and how they try to deal with it.

After these conversations, I started developing the character of Luca. It was important that he became a playful, resilient boy who does not get discouraged easily, but who nevertheless, due to the developments in his father’s life, increasingly struggles to stay upright. Luca’s story shows how even the strongest children can struggle with the consequences of divorce, and how important it is that their voices are heard and their feelings are acknowledged.