What Was the Inspiration Behind Del Toro’s ‘Pinocchio’?

While some of the events depicted in Pinocchio, such as Benito Mussolini’s rise to power, are historically accurate, Pinocchio is and remains a fairytale. However, that’s not to say the themes of the film cannot be applied to real life, which, based on his recent interviews, is what Guillermo del Toro intended.