beautifully rendered, graphically violent. incredibly sad

Rating: 8/10 (21 December 2006)

I just saw this film and although I'm not used to subtitles, I could follow the plot and dialog easily enough. It just takes a bit of getting used to. I'd have preferred it if the film had been dubbed into English, but that's a personal bias. This is a powerful film, very compelling, and very well-done. I can see why it won some awards! The characters are believable and you come to care about them (even the brutally sadistic Captain is not simply one-dimensional) and even the fantasy element woven throughout the realistically-presented war story is weirdly fitting. However, this film is shockingly and graphically violent, almost to a sickening degree. And the fate of the young heroine, Ofelia, is so heart-stopping sad... so freaking sad; I don't know if I'd want to see it a second time. I kept hoping desperately that it would have a happy ending, even though the very beginning of the film gives you a clue that it won't be. Jeez. I think I'm going to be depressed for about a week now. -nierwen