Vertigo Releasing, out now on digital and 14 December on DVD

The classic tale of a puppet come to life…

If you’re expecting a live-action version of the Disney cartoon – in the manner of the recent Lion King etc. – then think again. This hasn’t had the rough edges filed off and made pabulum for consumption by all ages – this is a PG movie, with more than a few moments that are definitely when children should hold their parents’ hands in case Mum or Dad gets too frightened.

As my colleague Martin saw this in the cinema with the English dub (read his review here), I watched it for this review with the subtitles (my Italian is enough to catch the odd line, but no more), but Matteo Garrone’s film overcomes any such language barrier very quickly. It makes no bones about its central subject matter – the way in which children were treated in that period – and there’s the rather grisly sight of Pinocchio being left to hang from a tree. Young Federico Ielapi makes an excellent Pinocchio, with Roberto Benigni’s Geppetto a credible character within the fantasy world.

Garone counterpoints the poverty of the period with the richness of the imagination, as Pinocchio jumps from one adventure to the other – and learns his lessons as he goes, thanks to the Blue Fairy and other allies.

The DVD contains both subbed and dubbed versions – the latter was apparently organised by Garone before the film even sold abroad – but no other extras.

Verdict: A little overlong – 20 minutes could easily be pruned – but a fascinating take on the Collodi tale. 8/10

Paul Simpson

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