Pinocchio

“Once upon a time, there was a piece of wood. […] An ordinary log,” writes Collodi at the beginning of the first chapter of The Adventures of Pinocchio. What follows are 35 chapters of adventures starring a wooden puppet, in which the log proves to be anything but ordinary. He laughs and pokes fun, leaps about like an untamed colt and, as soon as he has legs, runs away from his creator, Geppetto, a poor carpenter. His wilfulness is punished: he suffers cold and hunger and accidentally burns his feet. His father appeases his hunger with a pear, carves him a new pair of feet, clothes him and sends him off to school. But the merry music of a puppet theatre lures Pinocchio inside … And so on …

A travelling circus family performs the tale of Pinocchio. The young hero runs away from his father and, instead of going to school, sets off on a ramble. Through a succession of thrilling adventures, he faces mortal dangers, proving himself compassionate, courageous and self-sacrificing. On his journey towards adulthood, his innate curiosity and zest for life lead him through one escapade after another, while his inner voice watches over him. The adventures wear down and reshape this selfish, spoiled child, awakening in him a “real human being” – an individual capable of reflection, who learns to recognise the needs and feelings of others. His return home marks the beginning of a responsible life shared with the community.