Pan's Labyrinth
Ofelia's (Ivana Baquero) world is thrown into turmoil when her father dies during the war and her mother Carmen (Ariadna Gil) makes the reacquaintance of an army officer named Vidal (Sergi Lopez). Now heavily pregnant, Carmen rejoins her new husband, wishing to introduce him to Ofelia. But he is not only controlling, he is mean and sadistic and life goes from bad to worse. The only other person Ofelia can count on is Mercedes (Maribel Verdu), unaware that Mercedes has a secret of her own.
Ofelia likes to lose herself in her books of fairy tales, despite the Captain's objections. And she will not
call him father, either. One night a grasshopper comes to her room, telling her to follow it. It leads her to a labyrinth, and there she meets the faun Fauno (Doug Jones). He tells her of a story about a princess... and how Ofelia is that princess. And in order to claim what is rightfully hers, she must perform three tasks.
This was a beautiful film in many ways. Everything came together - writing, acting, directing, editing, cinematography, all under the deft hand of Guillermo del Toro. It's hard to tell where reality ends and fantasy begins...or if they truly do. Brutal people do brutal things, and sometimes good people have to make hard decisions. If you're looking for sunshine and sweetness and Tinker Bell-like fairies, then this is probably not the movie for you. But if you want to lose yourself in a little girl's world, take this extraordinary journey along with her, then please do enter. But do so at your own risk.
I would not change a thing about this film. I give it 5 Stars.
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