Christmas Film Releases: Skywalker, Ozpetek, Garrone

The 2019 Christmas season in Italian cinemas features three major releases: Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Ferzan Ozpetek's La Dea Fortuna, and Matteo Garrone's Pinocchio. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker closes the Skywalker saga with a Disney-produced film that lacks epic classical feel but features Adam Driver as a key character and includes Princess Leia via CGI reconstruction. La Dea Fortuna marks Ozpetek's return to his earlier style, starring Stefano Accorsi, Edoardo Leo, Jasmine Trinca, and Barbara Alberti as the antagonist; the story follows a gay couple whose lives are disrupted by their best friend and her two children. Garrone's Pinocchio is a faithful adaptation of Collodi's classic, featuring Roberto Benigni as Geppetto and co-written with Massimo Ceccherini (who also plays the Fox); the film is noted for its exceptional set design and visual effects but lighter tone. Distributors are Walt Disney Company (Star Wars), Warner Bros (La Dea Fortuna), and 01Distribution (Pinocchio). The article also mentions Checco Zalone's Tolo Tolo, set for release on New Year's Day, which has some multiplexes planning to dedicate all screens to it.