Review: El laberinto del fauno (Pan's Labrynth) -- Directed by Guillermo del Toro
El laberinto del fauno (Pan's Labyrinth in English) is a 2006 Mexican-Spanish film production directed by director Guillermo del Toro. It is set in 1944 in Falangist Spain and follows Ofelia (Ivana Baquero)-- whose pregnant mother marries a murdering, sadist officer by the name of Vidal. As Vidal leads troops into the forest to flush out rebel resistance, Ofelia discovers a labyrinth and its mystical inhabitant-- a faun who serves the king of the Underworld. It is the Faun who reveals to Ofelia that she is the lost princess and daughter of the king of Underworld. As the world around her plunges into the ruthless chaos of her stepfather-- Ofelia undergoes a series of trials to prove herself and to reclaim her true heritage.
The 2006 film is set against the political backdrop of the horrors of fascist Spain. However, the world that Ofelia is discovering is also filled with grim situations and creatures. Despite the presence of an eleven-year-old protagonist, I would be hesitant to show this film to anyone under the age of 11 or 12. When we are not met with the fantasy horrors we do find the perils of our own. We also quickly realize that the two worlds are actually strongly connected. As Vidal clears the forest to hunt rebels-- we see that Ofelia's journey becomes more distressing. The violence that is being inflicted on the earth is also reflective of that which is imposed on Ofelia and the rebels by Captain Vidal.
There are several critical moments in the film that shape the plot. Despite the horrors, we do see moments of courage and tenderness. This is especially evident when we learn that one rebel-- Mercedes (Mirabel Virdu)-- has infiltrated the fascist army by posing as a servant. As a spy she delivers critical information to the rebels but also plays a major role in Ofelia's journey. Despite the dangers the characters face we see the tremendous acts of courage and heroism they display.
The acting from all the parties was superb. My favorite performances came from Mirabel Virdú as Mercedes and Sergi Lopez as Captain Vidal. Guillermo Del Torro's directing was superb. The plot itself is moving. The film is in Spanish but does have subtitles in languages including: English, French, German, and Mandarin. You can find it on venues such as YouTube, Amazon, or Disney+.
You can watch the trailer here.
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