Character Relationship Map: Something New

Characters

• Lucia (played by Paola Cortellesi) — protagonist

  Lucia is Maria's longtime friend and a woman separated from her husband. Tired of men and determined to live without them, she becomes entangled in the unexpected relationship surrounding Luca. His pr...

• Maria (played by Micaela Ramazzotti) — supporting

  Maria is Lucia's longtime friend and a mother of two children who feels unable to do without men. When Luca arrives in her bed, their encounter triggers misunderstandings, lies, and emotional upheaval...

• Luca (played by Eduardo Valdarnini) — supporting

  Luca is a boy barely nineteen, portrayed as charming, passionate, self-assured, and not yet fully mature. He arrives in Maria's bed and becomes involved with both Maria and Lucia. Through simple theor...

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Maria → Luca (Family Mother And Son) — Their family relationship becomes the source of the final revelation and transforms Maria's reaction to Lucia's secret relationship into a personal confrontation.

  Luca arrives at Maria's home, where Maria recognizes him and realizes that Lucia has been sleeping with her son. Maria is also described as a mother o...

• Lucia → Luca (Romantic Involvement) — Lucia initially treats the encounter as a mistake, but mutual attraction draws her back to Luca even while his age and immaturity make her uneasy.

  After a night of drinking, Lucia wakes beside Luca, and their conversation makes it apparent that they spent the night together. Despite Lucia's attem...

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Lucia → Maria (Social Close Friends In Crisis) — Their candid friendship allows them to criticize each other's choices, but Lucia's concealed relationship with Luca turns that openness into anger and distrust.

  The plot describes Lucia and Maria as close friends who speak frankly about their romantic lives. Their friendship enters a crisis when Maria discover...

Story Analysis

Lucia's unexpected relationship with Luca exposes the limits of her certainty and places her friendship with Maria in crisis.

Plot Progression

1. Frank Friends and Hidden Longing — Lucia and Maria openly compare their beliefs about men, love, and sex. Their conversation establishes both their friendship and their contrasting emotional habits.
2. An Unwanted Attraction — Lucia wakes beside Luca after a night of drinking and tries to dismiss what happened. Luca's continued interest brings them back together, while Lucia begins to learn about his young age and family.
3. Returning Against Better Judgment — Lucia tells Luca to find someone his own age, but their attraction persists. She admits the relationship to Maria and struggles to decide whether it is more than sex.
4. The Secret Reaches Maria — Lucia continues returning to Luca despite suggesting they stop. When Luca arrives at Maria's home, Maria recognizes him as her son and confronts Lucia.