Having no expectations of Pan’s Labyrinth was a wise decision. It gave me room to be surprised and appreciate the film even more. Directed and written by Guillermo del Toro, Pan’s Labyrinth is the story of Ofelia during post-Civil War in Spain in 1944, when she moved to her stepfather’s house with her pregnant mother. She promises Ofelia a fulfilled life of love and promises. But her stepfather, Captain Vidal, does not care about them, only the fact that he will have a son and heir.
One night, a fairy visits Ofelia in her bedroom and brings her to the labyrinth, where she meets a faun. The faun informs her she’s the reincarnation of Princess Moanna but she must complete three tasks to ensure her essence is intact and she can return to her father’s kingdom. But the road is not free from obstacles and Captain Vidal and the war proves to be an adversary.
Pan’s Labyrinth is a very dark movie. Its setting, plot and theme are not typical of fantasy films. But its combination of great screenplay, great acting, great directing and great production makes it such a great movie. Del Toro was able to bring his audience into a different world, a world that all of us long for. And to juxtapose it against post-war Spain and in the presence of a sadistic tyrant was brilliant.
But the best part of the movie was Ofelia, played by Ivana Baquero. She simply brought Ofelia to life right before our eyes. Everyone else paled in comparison to her, which is just right since the movie is all about her story brought to life.
Pan’s Labyrinth is a wonderful fantasy film that’s perfect for those who will understand it. It’s definitely for older audiences only as it can be very dark for the younger ones.
