This was just an incredible movie. It was hard for me to imagine that the same Guillermo del Toro who directed “Hellboy” was the same guy who made this movie. Not since the late 80’s when I watched Jim Henson’s “Dark Crystal” have I ever been so horrified, moved and engrossed by what some would classify as a fantasy movie. Called a “grown-up’s fairy tale,” Pan’s Labyrinth is definitely not for the faint of heart, but for those who are willing to take the journey it is definitely worth it. The story is set in the 1930’s, during the Spanish Civil War. Ofelia is a young girl who moves with her pregnant mother to a rural military outpost to be with her new stepfather, the ruthless Captain Vidal. The captain is in charge of taking on resistance fighters in the mountains nearby.
Beside the outpost is an old garden with a labyrinth, and this is where Ofelia meets the Faun. He tells her that she could be the princess that their kingdom had lost long ago, and to prove that she was worthy of regaining her throne he gave her a magical book outlining 3 tasks she must complete before the full moon arrives.
Two characters stood out for me in this movie, both of them women. The first of course was Ofelia, played by the amazing Ivana Baquero. The intensity in which she was able to convey Ofelia’s innocence and strength literally grabbed me by the collar throughout the whole movie. The other character was the housekeeper Mercedes played by Maribel Verdu. (I was surprised at her transformation from the seductress she had played in “Y Tu Mama Tambien”). Mercedes was the other heroine of this story, and I could clearly see the depth of her courage strengthening with her resolve. With the same mouth she once used to say “I am a coward” also came the chilling words “you are not the first pig I’ve ever gutted” as she held a knife against a tormentor, rage burning in her eyes.
The movie is completely in Spanish with subtitles, and it worked perfectly. The fluidity of the Spanish language made me feel like I was listening to music instead of spoken words. The score also played a great part, the movie’s main theme is a sad lullaby, hummed because the words have long been forgotten. The cinematography was also a work of art in itself, almost a gray monotone throughout the film except in the Faun’s fantasy world.
There were a lot of themes in this movie: The depth of a child’s love, fearless in its simplicity. The courageous choices that ordinary people make, even in the face of great danger or even death, to stand up for those they love and what they believe in. The savage, cold-blooded brutality that the powerful can inflict over the weak. The truth that our external battles can only be faced and fought when we’ve conquered our battles and fears from within.
As I was exiting the theatre after the movie ended, I happened to glance down at a couple that was in one of the lower seats. A man was holding his wife, who was sobbing openly (and quite audibly, I might add) in his arms. Sheepishly I wondered if anyone would notice that my eyes were puffy too (since I had been crying myself). It was hard to deny the strong emotions that all of us felt, even after the end credits rolled by. For me, it was a bittersweet feeling – of grief at the heavy cost of Ofelia’s choice, and then sharing in her triumph in spite of her great sacrifice.
5/5 stars.
