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Pan's Labyrinth
2006 Directed by : Guillermo del Toro
Set in 1944 during Franco's ethnic clean up of Spain, the film follows Ofelia ( Ivana Baquero ) a young girl sent to live with her heavily pregnant mother and her step-father the evil Captain Vidal ( Sergi Lopez ) in the north of Spain.
Ofelia becomes lost in a world of fairy-tales and becomes convinced that she is possibly the long lost princess of a magical kingdom deep below her new home. Set a number of tasks by a Faun to see if she is the real princess, Ofelia becomes more imersed in her own fantasy world, whilst her evil step-father continues his blood thirsty tirade against the Basques who are being helped, in secret, by key members of the Captain's home.
The best way to describe this film is that it's an adult fairy tale, darker and more grusome than it's counterparts, it is beautifully shot and acted and a must for fans of del Toro.
Del Toro manages to weave the two stories together masterfully, and there is enough on screen to keep you engaged throughout, a strong story, great visuals and fantastic performances, especially by Baquero, Lopez and Maribel Verdu as Mercedes, the mole in Vidal's camp, all help make a very enjoyable and worth-while film.
A dark little tale, definetly not suitable for kids.
Rating 4/5
2006 Directed by : Guillermo del Toro
Set in 1944 during Franco's ethnic clean up of Spain, the film follows Ofelia ( Ivana Baquero ) a young girl sent to live with her heavily pregnant mother and her step-father the evil Captain Vidal ( Sergi Lopez ) in the north of Spain.
Ofelia becomes lost in a world of fairy-tales and becomes convinced that she is possibly the long lost princess of a magical kingdom deep below her new home. Set a number of tasks by a Faun to see if she is the real princess, Ofelia becomes more imersed in her own fantasy world, whilst her evil step-father continues his blood thirsty tirade against the Basques who are being helped, in secret, by key members of the Captain's home.
The best way to describe this film is that it's an adult fairy tale, darker and more grusome than it's counterparts, it is beautifully shot and acted and a must for fans of del Toro.
Del Toro manages to weave the two stories together masterfully, and there is enough on screen to keep you engaged throughout, a strong story, great visuals and fantastic performances, especially by Baquero, Lopez and Maribel Verdu as Mercedes, the mole in Vidal's camp, all help make a very enjoyable and worth-while film.
A dark little tale, definetly not suitable for kids.
Rating 4/5