Direction: Guillermo Del Toro
Country: USA
Carlo Collodi’s world-famous novel, Pinocchio, has been subjected to many versions lately. After Roberto Benigni had directed and starred in the abominable version of 2002, it was Matteo Garrone who attempted the feat with triumphant results in 2019 (curiously, the film also starred Benigni as Geppetto). 2022 brought us two opposite Pinocchios: a failed live-action remake by Robert Zemeckis, and an enjoyable, lush-looking stop-motion animated film by Guillermo Del Toro, who co-directed with the debutant Mark Gustafson.
The stubborn, super-energized wooden boy (voice by Gregory Mann) disobeys his unconsolable father, Geppetto (David Bradley), and skips school, ending up in a carnival show ran by the exploitative and authoritarian puppet-master, Count Volpe (Christoph Waltz). The story, set in the fascist Italy of the ‘30s, is narrated by Sebastian J. Cricket (Ewan McGregor), who looks after the living puppet, and also includes other interesting characters like Spazzatura (Cate Blanchett), a devilish monkey turned Pinocchio’s unlikely friend, and the sisters Wood Sprite and Death (Tilda Swinton).
The magical and moving approach of Del Toro gives the title character a fresh meaning in a delightful story that, filled with perils, joys, sorrows, and compassion, works as a life lesson. The musical aspect (entrusted to French composer Alexandre Desplat) didn’t match the technically stunning visuals, but this fable comes with enough humor, poetry, and grimness to justify the director’s childhood obsession. Extra dark tones contribute a personal touch to the least faithful rendition of Collodi’s tale.
