A movie that appeals to all the senses.
Set during the fascist rule of Spain, in 1944, a young girl named Ofelia finds an enchanted world that had only previously existed in the fairy tales and stories she so loved to read. One of the stories she used to read involved a princess who escaped the underworld and dies in the real world, and the tale reveals that one day, the princess shall be reborn into a human body, and be able to re-enter the underworld. A cryptic, and unpredictable Faun finds Ofelia, and believes that she is the Princess reincarnate. He asks her to perform three tasks which will prove her royal bloodline, and allow her entrance back home. Whilst Ofelia battles with magical toads and a child-eating monster in her magical world, there is turmoil in the life behind her. A violent and unyielding army officer Vidal, stepfather to Ofelia, does battle with the unrelenting rebels hiding in the woods surrounding the army's base. Ofelia's mother, pregnant with Vidal's son, struggles with her health and her vicious partner. As the tumultuous present becomes entwined with the magical underworld, Ofelia must fight on all fronts.
From visionary director Guillermo del Torro, this astonishing film breaks boundaries in all categories. It is visually stunning, with creatures and effects which are unparalleled. The violence is artistically shocking, with moments that make the stomach churn (look out for a scene with a farmer and a bottle). Completely filmed in Spanish, the subtitles give the film authenticity and originality for most English viewers.
One of those rare films that manages to successfully combine the real with fantasy, in a way that is original and entertaining. Absolutely unrelenting in its creativity, with cinematography and effects to tun, Pan's Labyrinth is a film that deserves its accolades.
No comments:
Post a Comment