A wonderful fairytale for adults...

Rating: 10/10 (10 January 2010)

Set in Spain, during World War II (I saw the version with English subtitles), this story concerns the family of a Spanish officer, Captain Vidal (Sergi López). Captain Vidal has had his wife Carmen (Ariadna Gil) move to a region of Spain where he has to combat rebels. Carmen also brings her daughter, Ofelia (Ivana Baquero), from a previous relationship. At their new home, domestic and military duties play out.
Even though this movie is a fantastic fairytale, I don't think it is suitable for pre-teens, as it does have some gory violence.
The English translation of the film's title is more specific than the Spanish title I think. "Pan" is the name of a human/animal hybrid type god in Greek mythology (a satyr, I think...or analogous to that). The Spanish title for this film, I believe, merely refers to the kind creature that Pan is, not a specific creature.
Anyway, little girl Ofelia encounters a satyr/faun near her new home. That (unnamed) satyr gives her three tasks to accomplish some objective which is not told to her. To someone unfamiliar with the specifics of the myths represented, I have to say I was unsure whether the creature was good or evil. There are some fantastic looking scenes for these elements of the story in any case.
The melding of the everyday and fairytale imagery works wonderfully well in this movie. You could say that you can interpret the movie as working on two levels...a world where myth and reality co-exist, or a world where we experience the mental life of the child, Ofelia.
To that extent, the ending is ambiguous...it works well however one interprets the status of this myth/reality we have experienced. If it was all Ofelia's inner mental life, then one can view it as something of a consolation for her.
Highly recommended. You may also enjoy the movie "Let the right one in". Another story for adults. An American remake is being filmed...see the original, please!