Monstrous humanity

Rating: 10/10 (24 June 2007)

Pan's Labyrinth is a brilliantly executed parable about how our own sadism projects itself historically, but through a child's eyes. From the outset the audience is left to decide whether the young protagonist is actually seeing what we are seeing. Could she be talking to a magical faun? Is her life in danger from an infanticidal ogre? Possibly; creatures whose vulgarity and wonder appear tame compared to the adult chaos surrounding her. In the end, it is the maturity near the main character which causes the most pain and suffering.
Technically, I've rarely witnessed such imaginative scenery and make-up effects in a single film. The film was deservedly awarded its Oscars for art direction and costuming.
Watch this movie for what it is; an all too real fairy tale.