At its core, the film is a "spiritual journey" about the relationship between a father and son.
The story begins with Geppetto, a grieving woodcarver who loses his son Carlo during WWI. He creates Pinocchio in a drunken fit of sorrow, and much of the film is about Geppetto learning to love Pinocchio for who he is, rather than as a replacement for his lost son. Pinocchio di Guillermo del Toro
While the original tale focuses on Pinocchio learning to obey to become a "real boy," del Toro’s version argues that disobedience is a virtue in the face of mindless fascism. At its core, the film is a "spiritual
Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (2022) is not just another retelling of the classic fairy tale; it is a profoundly dark and beautiful reimagining that blends political allegory with a meditation on life, death, and fatherhood. Released on Netflix , this Academy Award-winning stop-motion masterpiece took over 15 years to bring to life. While the original tale focuses on Pinocchio learning
Pinocchio is essentially immortal but meets "Death" multiple times in a liminal underworld. The film explores the idea that life is precious specifically because it is finite. Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (2022) - Plot - IMDb
The rise of Benito Mussolini serves as a backdrop, turning the traditional theme of obedience on its head.