Quartile rating: 8/10 · 1 rating
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.
Del Toro's Pinocchio is a stunning reimagining that sets the classic tale against the backdrop of Mussolini's fascist Italy, giving it genuine thematic weight around mortality, obedience, and love. The stop-motion animation is breathtakingly crafted — among the finest ever committed to the medium — with every frame feeling handmade and alive. The voice cast, including David Bradley, Ewan McGregor, and Cate Blanchett, brings remarkable depth. The film's willingness to engage seriously with death, grief, and authoritarianism makes it singularly distinctive among animated fairy tale adaptations. The ending, while emotionally resonant and tonally consistent, leans into bittersweet sentimentality in a way that feels slightly more conventional than the bold choices preceding it, keeping it from a perfect landing.