Pinocchio (2002)

User Rating:

3.6/10   

Director:

Roberto Benigni

Writers:

Roberto Benigni (writer)
Vincenzo Cerami (writer)

Release Date:

11 October 2002 (Italy)

Genre:

Comedy | Family | Fantasy

Plot:

Despite guidance from the Blue Fairy, and the love of his father, Gepetto, a wooden puppet's curious...

Plot Keywords:

Fairy | Donkey | Nose | Wood | Whale

Awards:

4 wins & 11 nominations

Cast

Roberto Benigni	...	Pinocchio
Nicoletta Braschi	...	Blue Fairy
Carlo Giuffrè	...	Geppetto
Kim Rossi Stuart	...	Lucignolo
Peppe Barra	...	The Talking Cricket
Mino Bellei	...	Medoro
Max Cavallari	...	The Cat
Bruno Arena	...	The Fox
Luis Molteni	...	Omino di burro
Alessandro Bergonzoni	...	Ring Master
Corrado Pani	...	Giudice
Vincenzo Cerami	...	Man with the Mustache
Giorgio Ariani	...	Host of the Gambero Rosso
Tommaso Bianco	...	Pulcinella
Franco Iavarone	...	Mangiafuoco (as Franco Javarone)

Also Known As:

Roberto Benigni's Pinocchio (USA) (promotional title)

Runtime:

108 min | Argentina:112 min

Country:

Italy | USA

Language:

Italian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS | DTS

Certification:

Switzerland:8 (canton of Zurich) | South Korea:All | Malaysia:(Banned) | Iraq:(Banned) | Canada:G | Iceland:L | Hong Kong:IIB (Violence) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Denmark:7 | France:U | Germany:6 | Netherlands:AL | Singapore:PG | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:8 (canton of the Grisons) | USA:G

Filming Locations:

Castelfasi, Pisa, Tuscany, Italy

Company:

Melampo Cinematografica

Trivia:

This was the most expensive production in Italian film history, with a budget of about $45 million.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Medoro gives Pinocchio's body over to the Blue Fairy, Medoro says he thinks Pinocchio is dead. After Medoro says that, Pinocchio's hand is grabbing the gold coins from a plant.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Film Geek (2005)

Soundtrack:

Il Tema Della Fata

A great film * IF * you have the right expectations

I'm an Italian-born longtime US resident, so I think I'm well-positioned to explain this film to the US public :) First and foremost, this isn't just "a film" -- it's a "Roberto Benigni" film. By that, I mean something analogous to a "Woody Allen" film, i.e. a film where the actor/director's imprint is so POWERFUL that you can't separate the two.

Imagine considering a "Woody Allen" film without taking into account the "Woody Allen" part! Well, Roberto Benigni is essentially an Italian Woody Allen -- though, IMHO, less neurotic. LOL My advice: watch other Benigni films BEFORE "Pinocchio". I highly recommend the much acclaimed "Life is Beautiful", and the much-lighter "The Monster." If you love his other films -- as I do -- you'll do just fine with "Pinocchio." Also try to understand the "Pinocchio" story before watching this movie. I grew up with it -- its popularity in Italy is like that of "The Wizard of Oz" in the US… "Pinocchio" is a very old-fashioned story, with quaint charm in its heavy-handed moralistic approach. In short, a boy (or a puppet wishing to be a boy) who disregards adult advice will get into all sorts of dire situations. Skip school and get transformed into a jackass! The real charmer is the lively personality of the puppet, and the other endearing characters, both human and magical.

Benigni is PERFECT for the role of the boy-puppet. It doesn't matter one iota how old he is; it's not just an "actor" -- it's Benigni.

Once again, Benigni is THE film in a Benigni film, just like Woody is THE film in his films.

Playing a rambunctious puppet is second nature to Benigni!! He's a total natural for that.

Foolishly, I was discouraged from watching this fine film by the negative reviews. Don't do my same mistake! BTW, rent the "Italian version": it gives you A CHOICE between Italian, English and French spoken languages. I speak all 3, and listened to all 3! I recommend the original, unless you really hate subtitles.