Guillermo's Fairy Tale

Rating: 9/10 (3 January 2007)

Jaw-dropping effects and masterful storytelling barely scratch the surface to describe Guillermo Del Toro's latest masterpiece, "Pan's Labyrinth." With his unique and creative eye, the director's passion in this fairy tale story comes through on the screen and right into the audience's minds. These attributes are accompanied by the fantastic performances of the cast that include Ivana Baquero, Sergi Lopez, and Doug Jones to name a few. While fairy tales are traditionally meant for young children, "Pan's Labyrinth" unleashes the imaginations of adult audiences and if only for a brief moment, lets them believe in the fantasy.
During the Spanish Civil War, young Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) and her pregnant mother (Ariadna Gil) move into a military base with her army captain step-father (Sergi Lopez). As the war progresses, Ofelia encounters fairies who lead her to the faun Pan (Doug Jones). Pan believes Ofelia to be the soul carrier of a fairy princess who had died long ago. But in order to prove herself, she must complete three challenges. Before the next full moon, Ofelia must complete the challenges or her destiny is to stay in the earthly realm.
Presenting the two different worlds of the fantasy and the reality is a task that writer and director Del Toro accomplishes perfectly. He not only shows the harsh and brutal effect that war can have on people but he equally parallels it with Ofelia's trials. Whatever situation Ofelia and her family endure, she faces a similar issue in her task. Del Toro's decision to have the film in Spanish and subtitled also adds to the authenticity of the era. Del Toro's use of darker backgrounds compliments mood of the film. This is not a happy time for Spain nor Ofelia as each is going through huge changes. Del Toro uses these dark settings to show the unhappiness and fear both are enduring. The darkness also adds to the mysterious nature of the fantasy realm.
Del Toro's script shows he is as great a writer as he is a director is come up with such a fantastic story. Creating the film's story counterparts is not an easy task as Del Toro shows his research to the time period to coincide with his own ideas and legend. His personal Grimm Fairy Tale has characters that are very well developed and intriguing. His version of Pan is a great resemblance to the mythological character and the monsters Ofelia encounters show the ever-working imagination of the director.
As Ofelia, Ivana Baquero does a terrific job of bringing the character to life. We feel her pain and uncertainty of having to move to a strange new place and the excitement that she may be able to change it. Baquero's best performance comes from when she tries to comfort her mother. The innocence she brings into Ofelia and the love she has for those she cares for will touch the hearts of the audience. Rivaling Baquero's innocence is the cruel and brutal performance of Sergi Lopez as her step-father Captain Vidal. Lopez doesn't make the character merciless without cause. Instead, he delves into the prideful nature of the soldier. He is malicious because he feels he has an obligation to his country and to his family's honor to hold down his territory. One of Lopez's best characteristics in playing the Captain is his eyes. With a simple movement, audiences can actually see the wheels turning in his head as he plans the next move. Doug Jones' Pan is one of the more diverse characters. Throughout the film, one can not really be certain what his intentions are for Ofelia. The ambiguity is one of Jones' best traits. One minute he would be telling Ofelia her destiny, the next he would chastise her to forget the whole quest. Jones also realizes to play Pan more aged. He is not the happily, skipping through the forest Pan but rather a more learned faun with centuries of knowledge.
As the saying goes, "this is not your mother's fairy tale." Del Toro has tailored this tale for adult audiences and to let their imaginations run with it. His double storytelling ability and creative characters make this a thoughtful and thoroughly enjoyable film. The talented cast breathes life into Del Toro's characters and will make them iconic for years to come. Again, these talents just scratch the surface of the brilliance of the film. "Pan's Labyrinth" will leave audiences in awe and wonder and may just reignite the child essence in others.