While many family films are available at the end of the year on Netflix, Pinocchio by Guillermo del Toro is definitely the most beautiful animated film to discover. The famous director revisits this cult character in a breathtaking way.
Summary : Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro revisits Carlo Collodi’s tale about a puppet that magically comes to life to soothe the heart of a woodcarver named Geppetto. This stop-motion musical fantasy epic directed by Guillermo del Toro and Mark Gustafson follows the adventures of mischievous and disobedient Pinocchio as he searches for his place in the world.
Released November 24, 2022
In this year 2022, there will have been two adaptations of Pinocchio. First of all, the wooden puppet created by Carlo Collodi in 1881 went through the Disney + platform thanks to the realization of Robert Zemeckis. The result is a tasteless, disappointing work that does not at all pay homage to the 1940 Disney studio cartoon. Worse, Pinocchio did not seem to learn anything in this version, was already very wise and finally suffered the vices of society (yes, he did not decide on his own, for example, to go to the enchanted island…). A failure for a director like Zemeckis, however accustomed to success and innovation.
We could have feared the worst with this adaptation by Guillermo del Toro, but we were perfectly right to believe it. In addition to being one of Pinocchio’s finest adventures, the film is unquestionably the best animated film that can be seen on Netflix. This darker, more poetic and more authentic version overflows with humanity in a completely new context: that of fascist Italy.
Pinocchio : a puppet of freedom and innocence
Guillermo del Toro is taking a very bold gamble by radically changing what we generally know about Pinocchio’s story. Gepetto had a son whom he lost during a World War I bombardment. Inconsolable, he remained in despair and took refuge in alcohol for years. Then, one day, he builds a puppet, totally drunk. Pinocchio will magically come to life. However, the insolence of this rebellious character destined to find his own place without being imposed on him, will upset the lives of all those on whom he will have influenced with this innocence lost in time of war.
The director of The Shape of Water succeeds as much in moving as in laughing through this dark but sincere and intimate fable of the passage to adulthood. It instills a real philosophical reflection on difference, life and death but also on what makes a child. Telling yet another story of obedience in the political context of fascist Italy could not have allowed Del Toro to bring so much humanity to the character. Pinocchio then seems representative of innocence and freedom. It is in the darkest moments of history that light reappears.
Curiously, this Pinocchio reminded us a lot of the character of Astro Boy (by Osamu Tezuka), created by Doctor Tenma to replace his lost son. Except that the child is not his son, but a way to turn the page and live life to the fullest. He then emerges from this Pinocchiothe mark of the greatest stories told.
A masterful achievement
Entirely in stop-motion, this sublime fable takes on a very dreamlike and poetic form thanks to the meticulous work of Mark Gustafson, the film’s animation director. Fantastic Mr Fox by Wes Anderson. The exciting and titanic work further enhances the beauty of this film. A making-of is available to see the monster work that this represents. We applaud! And what about its moments where the film delves into the fantastical, delivering reflections on death through the spirit world. Never has an animated film made us dream so much in its universe.
Finally, to top it off, the voice cast is almost flawless (Ewan McGregor, Tilda Swinton, Christoph Waltz or David Bradley…) and the songs composed by Alexandre Desplats are incredible.
Finally, the only regret through this Pinocchio would be to discover this beautiful animated film on Netflix, when it fully deserved a cinema release.
A tale full of sweetness, darkness and humanity, Pinocchio by Guillermo del Toro is the essential film of this end of the year and undoubtedly one of the best films you will find on Netflix. We go through all the emotions and we come out filled. Pinocchio will be a milestone, that’s for sure!
