“Pan’s Labyrinth” (Picturehouse)
Visually Stunning Combination of Fairy Tale/True Story
Just when you think you have seen it all at the movies along comes a movie that turns that theory upside down. “Pan’s Labyrinth” by Guillermo del Toro is a film that tells its story in a way that has not been viewed before. It is visually stunning and emotionally gripping, plus it combines a fairy tale with true life and pulls it off.
The film opens with a young girl named Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) traveling with her mother Carmen (Ariadna Gil). They are going to an outpost in Spain where Carmen’s new husband Capitan Vidal (Sergi Lopez) is the commandant. Carmen is pregnant with his child and is in extreme discomfort.
When they arrive Ofelia is totally uncomfortable with her surroundings but finds solace in the presence of a servant named Mercedes (Maribel Verdu). She also is fascinated by a labyrinth on the property. When she has time to herself she explores the maze and meets a faun (Doug Jones). He tells her she is a princess who has long been awaited, but in order to return to her kingdom she has three missions to complete. Ofelia immediately starts on these tasks while all around her war is raging between the Fascist troops in Spain and the mountain rebels.
The switch between reality and fantasy is amazingly understandable. Ofelia is the link to both worlds and because of the acting talent of young actress Baquero we find the transition easy to make. Baquero’s performance is one of the year’s best and she, not Abigail Breslin, should be the child actor nominated for a supporting actress Oscar.
The look of the film is stunning in both worlds and del Toro lets his imaginative mind run wild as he conjures up fauns and fairies and other mystical creatures. The actors in the real world of the story are terrific. Lopez plays evil with more horror than usually seen on the screen. Captain Vidal is a brute, a torturer, and an egomaniac and Lopez gives full reign to each of these facets of his personality.
Balancing him is Verdu’s performance as Mercedes. She is the force for good in the film and Verdu makes Mercedes heroic in every sense of the word. She is the one the audience is pulling for all the way. But death occurs easily in this film and you shouldn’t count on any character being safe until the end.
The film is rated R for profanity and much violence.
“Pan’s Labyrinth” is a movie unlike any other. It has a specific look and feel to it that remains with the viewer long after the film, has ended. The actors are all talented and the direction is sure and daring. It is a movie to be watched and savored.
Since this is a Spanish film with subtitles many will be put off from viewing it. They will be missing one of the true entertainment treats of the year.
I scored “Pan’s Labyrinth” a Grimm 8 out of 10.
