Pan's Labyrinth

(2006)
Directed by: Guillermo del Toro

Cast:
Ivana Baquero - Ofelia
Meribel Virdu - Mercedes
Sergi Lopez - Captain Vidal
Doug Jones - Pan/Pale Man
Ariadna Gil - Carmen Vidal


Reality can be the scariest nightmare of all. It is Spain at the end of the Spanish Civil War. Franco’s regime is determined to eliminate all the remaining rebels. Enter Ofelia a girl of twelve or so who still enjoys fairy tales. She along with her mother are sent by the Captain (who must be the son of Satan himself) to live with him while he is stationed at a Mill in the Spanish wilderness. In particular he wants her to have his baby there.
There is no one Ofelia’s age and the world around her is so deranged that the only way she can probably keep her sanity is to make a fantasy world for herself. Her adventures begin as she meets Pan, an old satyr that lives belowground at the center of a labyrinth. Pan tells her that she is the reincarnated daughter of the king and queen of a magical realm. There are quests she must take however to prove her worthiness. This involves retrieving a key from a hippo-sized toad & getting a knife from an eyeless child- eating monster.
The real monster in this movie is the Captain who has no respect for life whatsoever. When two trappers are thought to be spies he savagely beats one’s face in with a bottle. Then he checks their bags and finds the rabbits. His excuse is they should have been questioned before being brought to his attention. He seems to take great pride in torturing the people he finds as well.
Mercedes the maid and Ofelia’s only friend takes great risk in bringing supplies to the rebels right under the captain’s nose. The rebels also risk death daily to be free from tyranny.
I thought the movie was sad, deeply touching and honest in its portrayal of blind followers and brave rebels. The cinematography was excellent. The play of light and shadow was superb in setting the mood. The story is well told and it is easy for the viewer to sympathize and even empathize with the main character Ofelia. This movie is graphic at times but it all goes to show that real life is no fairy tale.

3 ½ stars