Pan's Labyrinth reviews
Review by on 26 Sep 2010
Influenced heavily by the paintings of Francisco Goya, PAN’S LABYRINTH explores (similarly to previous Del Toro work THE DEVIL’S BACKBONE) the effect of the Spanish Civil war upon the children of the era. Centred on Ophelia, a young girl ripped from her comfortable city life with her father and smiling mother, into a world surrounded by violence, governed by her brutal new stepfather, the rigid and egotistical Captain Vidal (a projection of Franco himself). Ophelia finds refuge inside her imagination, discovering a disused Labyrinth behind the Mill, and meets a Faun. As Ophelia’s situation worsens, so too does her inner world grow dark and disturbed, the brutality of the war outside finding its way not only into the plotline (which also follows events of the small-scale war fought between Vidal and the local guerrillas) but also into Ophelia’s twisted fantasies. Rich with a haunting and memorable score, PAN’S LABYRINTH paints a darker, more introverted picture than its similarly set predecessor THE DEVIL’S BACKBONE. The Grotesquely beautiful fantasy in which Ophelia lives is maturely and intelligently offset by the violence occurring all around between the opposing forces. This tragic adventure is overflowing with rich, relatable and sensitively played characters, all brilliantly performed, Ophelia herself being the centre of attention, but the maid Mercedes is one to look for. It is clear that Del Toro has reached a pinnacle of polished grace with his symbolic and emotionally touching filmmaking with PAN’S LABYRINTH, exemplified by the silver screen.
Max Elgar
Max Elgar
Film details
Pan's Labyrinth
DEL TORO
Director: Guillermo Del Toro
Actor: Ariadna Gil
Actor: Maribel Verdu
Actor: Doug Jones
Actor: Ivana Baquero
Actor: Sergi Lopez
Actor: Ariadna Gil
Actor: Maribel Verdu
Actor: Doug Jones
Actor: Ivana Baquero
Actor: Sergi Lopez
Mexico, Spain, USA, 2006.
119 mins. with English subtitles.
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