How organically does the grotesque vision of the director of "Dogman" fit the classic fairy tale by Carlo Collodi, "The Adventures of Pinocchio"?

Admit it, you don't know the story of Carlo Collodi's "The Adventures of Pinocchio" well. There's nothing wrong with that, because since childhood we've all known a different wooden boy and his adventures with the golden key.
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Collodi's "Pinocchio" is by no means the sweetest or friendliest work for children. It features undertaker rabbits, drowned donkeys, and other creepy moments that can seriously impact a child's fragile psyche.

Why this lyrical introduction? Because Italian Matteo Garrone made no compromises and brought the classic story to the big screen exactly as the author intended—harsh and instructive, yet magical and full of mystery.

At the same time, the director added dark and grotesque humor, which works remarkably well both within the story and as a commentary on certain aspects of modern life.

Classic Plot

In the story, Geppetto decides to create the most beautiful puppet from wood, but his creation suddenly comes to life and from the very first moments causes nothing but trouble—running away from his "father" or absurdly losing his legs. The restless boy is soon swept into a whirlwind of events, encountering various colorful characters along the way, from a lovely fairy to the thieving Fox and Cat.

Impressive Technical Side

Two-time Oscar-winning designer M. Kulir brought the fairy-tale characters to life with impressive prosthetic makeup. The characters are sometimes eerie, sometimes comical. But the desire to minimize the use of computer graphics, oddly enough, benefits the overall fairy-tale quality of the story, along with the amazing and diverse Italian locations.
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The musical accompaniment deserves special mention. Another Oscar winner, Dario Marianelli, created such magical music that you won't want to return to the real world after hearing it.

Is It Worth Watching?

Such an unconventional film is hard to recommend to everyone, especially parents with young children, but connoisseurs of beauty should definitely watch Garrone's "Pinocchio."