Here's What Alberto Says to Luca at the End of 'Luca' (Hint: It's Adorable)
As Alberto says goodbye to Luca, he tells him, in Italian, a phrase that roughly translates to, "Nice to meet you, I'm Girolamo Trombetta!" Luca asks him what they means, and Alberto says, "No idea. Find out for me, will ya?"
As it turns out, it's not meant to be anything horrible deep. "Piacere, Girolamo Trombetta" seems to be an Italian greeting Alberto overheard someone saying, and then decided to repeat for fun.
If this is the case, then there's probably no real reason why Alberto says this, only because it's adorable and hilariously random.
Enrico Casarosa — the film's director — has offered more context about what Alberto said to Luca at the end (and beginning) of the movie.
"It's a silly kids thing from when I grew up," he explained. "It's at its base a pun with a handshake that goes with it. It's Italian roughly for 'nice to meet you my name is twisty trombone!" And as say your name you mimic the name in the handshake movement."
After Luca leaves, we later learn in the end credits that both Luca and Alberto do thrive, even if they're not with each other anymore. Luca goes to school and doesn't need to hide his sea monster identity anymore, and his teachers and classmates are in awe of how he's able to transform from human boy to sea monster. (Hooray people having any open mind!) Luca and Giulia learn more about the world, and he doesn't forget Alberto: He writes him letters and the two keep in contact.
In Portorosso, Alberto finds a new family — he and Massimo become a part of the Paguro fam. Machiavelli becomes a father to a litter of kittens, and Alberto's tortoise pal Caligola ends up living with him, too. Plus, the people of Portorosso also become more open-minded and treat Alberto and his family with kindness and respect. Even creepy Uncle Ugo gets a happy ending: One of the goatfish stumbles upon Ugo's lair and Ugo thinks its his nephew coming to visit.
Luca is currently streaming on Disney+.
