Wonka - an original prequel that is not a remake

Translated by Michela Scappaticci 

After a long wait Wonka - starring Timotee Chalamet - will be released in cinemas thanks to Paul King, director of the Paddington films. He has finally made his theatrical debut and has already won the hearts of audiences with his irresistible combination of sweeping musicals and poetry, offering a playful and cheerful version of the legendary chocolatier Willy Wonka.

The film sees Timothée Chalamet take on a role unforgettably associated with another great actor, Johnny Depp, who plays the young Willy Wonka, a character created from the pen of Roald Dahl back in 1964. We should emphasise, however, that despite a common misconception, the film is not a remake of 1971's Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, and even less so of Tim Burton's 2005 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. It seems more like a thrilling prequel that reveals how Willy became Wonka.

The all-star cast, in addition to Chalamet, includes actors of the calibre of Keegan-Michael Key, American voice actor, actor and comedian, Sally Hawkins, winner of numerous awards such as the Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival, Rowan Atkinson, an actor known and recognised for playing Johnny English and for being the face of Mr. Bean, Olivia Colman, an actress famous for Iron Lady, The Crown, Les Misérables and many other internationally successful audiovisual productions.

The musical quickly conquered the Christmas box office, earning more than seven million euros over the holiday period. It confirmed its position as the most-watched film at the cinema during the Christmas season, with total revenues close to eight million euros.

However, it is impossible not to notice a few flaws in this film.  Although it is family-friendly, and therefore scripted to appeal to a specific target audience, the all too frequent use of narrative devices to resolve complicated situations without raising big problems seemed almost excessive to me. Very few people in Italy will notice this, but the dubbing was handled very badly, inexistent lip-sync, some translations unrelated to the context, although - it is true to say - the Oompa Loompa song will take a very long time to get out of my head.

Apart from a few technical errors, the film promises to be a cinematic experience that takes everyone back to the world of light-heartedness and magic, where not even the bad guys are real villains, introducing the audience to a young Willy determined to change the world one delicious bite at a time.

The year 2023 ends with cinematic successes and new records, Oppenheimer, Barbie, There's Still Tomorrow, and with audiences already looking forward to new releases and a 2024 that opens with the exciting How Do You Live? by one of the most beloved directors of East Asian cinema, Hayao Miyazaki.

In conclusion, Wonka emerges as the film of the holidays, captivating audiences with its magic, music and compelling story of how Willy Wonka became the iconic character we all know and love.

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