Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (2022) Brilliantly Explores Love, Death, Grief, and Joy

Guillermo Del Toro's Pinocchio is perfect: it brilliantly explores love, death, grief, joy, & all emotions. It's raw & dark but shows life's beauty even in its hardest times.

Guillermo del Toro's "Pinocchio" is out now on Netflix; a fable that flips the script on Disney's classic, set in fascist Italy. When asked if it's appropriate for kids, del Toro says "children can watch it" - though it's not necessarily made for them.

Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio melds dark imagery with the love between parent and child, creating a unique version of the classic tale. It's darker than ever before, but the emotional impact is stronger too.

Del Toro explores motivations behind popular moments, like why Geppetto makes Pinocchio (lost a son in a bombing). Pinocchio dies multiple times, visits an afterlife and learns of immortality with a cost. 

Del Toro cut out some of Collodi's more fantastical plot points (no donkeys here!) and added a few new ones (Pinocchio becoming a soldier). Tilda Swinton's character has a mysterious twin, with an unusual group of poker-playing rabbits. Del Toro's ambition and creativity shine through in this Pinocchio, although it can feel cluttered and overlong at times. He succeeds in captivating us with a wild wooden boy by the end.

Del Toro and his team explore the world and characters of Pinocchio in a new and meaningful way. Pinocchio is a blank slate, and his discoveries bring levity to the cruel world. The heartwarming love between parent and child helps make hardships more bearable. Towards the middle, the film loses some of its balance but regains it by the end, with an unforgettable and haunting conclusion that builds on the known ending.

In Pinocchio, Guillermo del Toro examines the dilemma of whether it's ever OK to bring a child into a world of evil. Pinocchio's village is peaceful, but is threatened by the oppressive Podestà. War forces children to abandon their innocence, using their talents for destruction and fear. Pinocchio's story asks: can any good come from raising a child in such a world?

Del Toro's Pinocchio is a delightful mix of stop-motion animation, top-notch voice work, and a unique take on an old classic - sure to be cherished by viewers of all ages.