This is so magical- I love how you're blending Joe and Daan, and Nicky and Paolo. I cannot wait to see Italia and Saar get along, and I love how Joe has Issues about online friendships/relationships after Kaatje (listen, I can be 100% into it when I'm watching the movie and love it etc, but I can also recognize how not cool it was, Kaatje!)
And Paolo-!! Paolo's anxiety and the internalized values from the more conservative society around him and his whole love-but-also-not-healthy thing with Mia, Paolo crying when he sees Italia for the first time, Paolo with the found family and the sweet, loving religious upbringing at the orphanage! Paolo fucking stole my heart, so to have some of that mixed into Nicky is so damn good.
Also as a mom I cannot handle how very true-to-life this feels for two 9 y-o girls. These letters and their dialogue with their dads feels so real, excellent work!
Re: Pen Friend Program (Joe/Nicky, Hartenstraat/Il Padre d'Italia + matchmaking kids)
And Paolo-!! Paolo's anxiety and the internalized values from the more conservative society around him and his whole love-but-also-not-healthy thing with Mia, Paolo crying when he sees Italia for the first time, Paolo with the found family and the sweet, loving religious upbringing at the orphanage! Paolo fucking stole my heart, so to have some of that mixed into Nicky is so damn good.
Also as a mom I cannot handle how very true-to-life this feels for two 9 y-o girls. These letters and their dialogue with their dads feels so real, excellent work!