Nata Per Te
The fact-based, moving story of a gay man who wants to adopt a baby with Down syndrome who has been abandoned in the hospital. He encounters a wall of rigid court rules.
NATA PER TE (Italian for ‘born for you’) tells the true story of Luca Trapanese and Alba. Luca is a social worker, a practising Catholic, and wants nothing more than a family. Unfortunately, that is almost impossible for him as a single, gay man in Italy. Nevertheless, he registers as a foster parent.
When Alba is born with Down syndrome and abandoned in a hospital, Naples’ children’s court searches diligently for a foster family that might want to adopt Alba. Despite the fact that Luca expresses his love to take care of Alba, the court sticks to the traditional definition of a family: a father and a mother. As thirty foster families reject Alba’s care, Luca is appointed temporary guardian. He knows Alba could be taken from him at any moment if a ‘real family’ presents itself. Luca decides to fight for guardianship.
Luca Trapanese wrote a book about his experiences and to this day updates an Instagram account (@trapaluca) documenting his life with Alba. (rs)