With a new “Pinocchio,” Roberto Benigni is again making history. He was the first non-English speaking male actor to win an Oscar for his Italian masterpiece “Life Is Beautiful” (‘97), which also won Benigni a second Oscar for Best Foreign Language Picture. Back in 2002 Benigni directed and played the wooden puppet who wants to become a real boy in his version of “Pinocchio.”

Now, before Tom Hanks stars in yet another version next year for Disney+, there is Matteo Garrone’s very Italian adaptation with Benigni starring as Geppetto, the humble wood carver who creates and names Pinocchio. An award-winning critical and box-office success in Italy, Garone (the 2008 Mafioso “Gomorrah”) has made a faithful adaptation of Carlo Collodi’s 1883 novel.