Italian filmmaker Matteo Garrone’s adaptation of Pinocchio offers a dark and unsettling retelling of the classic tale. Set in poverty-stricken rural Italy during the nineteenth century, the film opens as reclusive toymaker Geppetto crafts the wooden puppet Pinocchio, who magically comes to life. The film follows Pinocchio’s fantastical journey to become a real boy as he traverses a dangerous world full of sinister characters who test his morals and force him to confront the consequences of his actions. Garrone’s visually stunning adaptation returns to the darker roots of author Carlo Collodi’s original story, unfolding as a cautionary tale about human nature that will resonate with mature audiences.
Widely praised upon its release, the film received numerous accolades in Italy and abroad, including two Academy Award nominations.
Anna Brusutti (Film and Media Studies, UCSB) will introduce the film with a discussion of the history of Pinocchio on screen and its relationship to Carlo Collodi’s classic novel.