The story begins with Geppetto, a grieving woodcarver who loses his son Carlo during WWI. He creates Pinocchio in a drunken fit of sorrow, and much of the film is about Geppetto learning to love Pinocchio for who he is, rather than as a replacement for his lost son.
Pinocchio is essentially immortal but meets "Death" multiple times in a liminal underworld. The film explores the idea that life is precious specifically because it is finite. Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (2022) - Plot - IMDb Pinocchio di Guillermo del Toro
The rise of Benito Mussolini serves as a backdrop, turning the traditional theme of obedience on its head. The story begins with Geppetto, a grieving woodcarver