Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio
2022 · Directed by Mark Gustafson, Guillermo del Toro
Original language: English
- animation
- fantasy
- adventure
- drama
The story
During the rise of fascism in Mussolini's Italy, a wooden boy brought magically to life struggles to live up to his father's expectations.
What it’s like
Hand-carved wood grain, stop-motion textures and lantern-lit rooms in deep ochre and blue-black shadow, with the frame often pulled back so the puppet figures feel small against cold stone and crooked village streets. The camera moves slowly and deliberately, and the score swells into folk-tinged orchestral warmth before dropping into near silence, with the creak of wood and the drip of rain filling the gaps. Its vibe is melancholic and tender, shot through with a damp, wintry unease, the kind of film to settle into on a grey afternoon or late at night with the lamp on. Pacing is unhurried, with long quiet stretches giving way to sharp bursts of comedy and sudden, startling darkness. Its emotional register centers on a stern father and a restless child slowly learning to see each other, alongside the sour pressures of war and authority hovering at the edges. Intensity is moderate: some death and wartime cruelty, a few frightening sequences, and dark imagery, but no gore and little overt violence. It suits viewers who want a grown-up, mournful fairy tale with handmade beauty, and who don't mind sadness that is softened by warmth.
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