Pinocchio

Woodcarver Geppetto (Roberto Benigni) finds the perfect piece of wood for his latest project: a marionette. But then something magical happens: the cheeky wooden puppet suddenly starts talking; he begins to walk, run, and eat—just like a normal boy. Geppetto names him Pinocchio and raises him as his own son. But Pinocchio finds it increasingly difficult to behave. Easily influenced, the wooden boy encounters one mishap after another. He is tricked, kidnapped, and chased by bandits through a world full of fantastical creatures and places. Meanwhile, the fairy with dark blue hair (Marine Vacth), his loyal friend, tries to convince Pinocchio that his deepest dream could come true if he reforms: to become a real boy of flesh and blood. "The adaptation is set in a surreal Italy of the past, where fairy-tale elements exist amidst a society ruled by dark forces. Fantasy and some distinctly childlike ideas stand alongside naturalistic scenes of misery, violence, and danger, which make the film unsuitable for younger children. The effects, the poetic visual language, and the captivating performance by Roberto Benigni as Geppetto are fascinating." (Lexikon des Internationalen Films) The “KinderFilmWelt” of our partner KJF (German Children’s and Youth Film Center) recommends the film for ages 9 and up and writes: “‘Pinocchio’ has become a dark fairy tale that never ceases to amaze. This makes the journey, during which Pinocchio learns how to behave properly, quite impressive and exciting.”