The Special Need

A tender road trip exploring love, friendship and the normality of difference

The Special Need follows Enea, a 29-year-old man from northern Italy who works in a textile factory and spends his free time with his two inseparable friends, Carlo and Alex. Like many men his age, Enea longs to fall in love and to experience sex for the first time. Yet his autism makes social interactions complex and often misunderstood, turning his pursuit of affection into an emotional challenge.

When his friends realise that his attempts to connect with women are going nowhere, they decide to help him in their own way. Together, they set out on a van trip across Europe, heading towards Austria, where brothels are legal. What begins as a lighthearted adventure gradually becomes an intimate and profound journey into the meaning of love, friendship and human vulnerability.

Through Enea’s openness and his companions’ empathy, the film offers an honest and sensitive portrayal of sexuality and emotional needs in people with disabilities. Directed by Carlo Zoratti, The Special Need balances humour and tenderness, showing the universality of desire and the courage it takes to seek connection. Winner of the Golden Dove Award at the Leipzig Film Festival, this documentary blends the freshness of a road movie with the emotional depth of a coming-of-age story, celebrating the humanity that binds us all.