Breathtaking in its beautiful simplicity

Rating: 8/10 (29 August 2007)

I'll be careful about my spoilers, because I don't want to ruin this film for you.
That was the LAST time I listen to critics...i almost skipped this movie based on comments i read, which would have an ignorant movie goer like me believe this is a fascist, gruesome, bloody, excessively violent gore fest with only a trace of fantasy elements...that only, and I quote, "a closet sadist" could enjoy.
This is a FANTASTIC movie...in the true sense of the word. Where do I even begin trying to review it?
Okay, so there is a not-so-subtle message in the film to the effect: "Fascism is BAD." Far from being out-of-place in this day and age, I think a message like that is now as relevant in this world as it ever was. But enough about my world view.
Yes, the film has a body count...but the violence was pretty much what you'd expect a group of isolated, fascist pigs in uniforms with massive superiority complexes to indulge in. It's brutal.
And it is precisely this brutality that forces Ofelia to escape to this fantasy world of the faun, which is breathtaking in its beautiful simplicity.
The faun (mistakenly, I have learned now, referred to as "Pan" - he is not called Pan in the film, nor does he really behave like the mythological Pan), is such a wonderful character. Such a fantastic delivery of lines by Doug Jones despite the costume/suit and also despite the fact that Spanish is NOT his first language...wonderful performance. Inspired so many emotions and thoughts...when I first saw him, I was transfixed, curious, as Ofelia was, then later when he yells at her, i disliked the character for a moment, didn't trust him, was a little afraid, as was Ofelia...then ultimately I grew to trust him, believed in the magic. Just as Ofelia did. All credit to Del Toro for weaving such complexity into this characterisation, and to young Ivana Baquero for such a great performance in being able to convey all those emotions in such a seemingly effortless way.
While we're on performances, I have seen few villains I have DESPISED more than Vidal (Sergi Lopez). I doubt I could watch him in anything else without thinking of him in this.
SPOILER This film is, of course, full of imagery. It is also remarkable in the way it (gently) manipulates your emotions. For instance, when I first saw the stick insect, I was repelled, I hate creepy crawlies. Yet when we see what it truly was, my repulsion was at once replaced with curiosity and wonder. When I first saw Mercedes (Maribel Verdu) I thought nothing of her.that she was simply a sounding-board of sorts for Ofelia's story. Then I grew to love this character when I realised how very brave and honourable she was, even in the face of such barbaric evil as Vidal. END SPOILER
On subtitles, I must admit I prefer films in my own language because I am a reasonably lazy movie-goer. That said, I own a few subtitled films, but to be honest I just haven't seen that many that I've enjoyed enough to buy on DVD. Spanish has many words that are similar to English anyway (I'm fairly certain both languages are derived from Latin) so it was pretty easy to figure out what they were saying even when I wasn't paying attention to the subtitles. Plus, Spanish is such a beautiful language to listen to anyway, that it all just added to the film's dream-like quality for me. And reading the subtitles made me feel more like I was reading a fairy tale before bed, adding to the magic as well.
I think this film is hard to categorisenot that we really NEED to categorise it, but for those, like myself who were torn as to whther to watch this or not, I'd say it's closer to being like Lady in the Water than it is to say, "Labyrinth" (1986), in it's overall "feel" and of course with the additional element of fairly graphic violence. The war drama elements to the film feel more like "Downfall", than other more Hollywood war films like Saving Private Ryan. Depressingly cold and brutal. Devoid of theatrics.
While the external world is beyond her control, and is dark, depressing and savage, Ofelia's world is bright and very theatrical, but not so bright and wondrous that we lose sight of where Ofelia is, or what is going on around her. The scenes with her mother are heart-wrenching.
The music begins like a lullaby, a soft woman's voice hums a tune which gently segues into the orchestral score. In the film, you barely know its there until it gently tugs at your emotions.
The violence in this film, far from being gratuitous, is brutal and often "efficient" (eg executing the wounded), just as I've read wartime violence is. That's how it's presented here  matter of fact. As shocking and offensive as a cold, hard slap in the face. Yet, it is not presented in a "voyeuristic" way, but as if we've just witnessed something horrid, and yet can't look away.
SPOILER I found the "rebel-sympathiser" doctor character very good, I liked his humanity, and the way he stood up to Vidal, even if it did cost him his life. That would take so much courage. He should have hidden those damn vials of antibiotics!!!! END SPOILER
So to conclude, if you think this is your kind of movie, it probably is. Don't listen to the criticsif I had of listened to them I would have missed a truly mesmerising movie experience. This is a beautiful story, with great characters, too many stand-out scenes to name, and really is a testament to the power of imagination.