A visual feast for the eye and food for thought

Rating: 9/10 (8 March 2012)

Weaving a fairy tale into a harsh war environment, combining historical drama, fantasy elements and horror and make everything work when it is played against each other is not an easy task. "Pan's Labyrinth" works. Mexican director Guillermo del Toro tells a little girl's story in fascist Spain of 1944, and it is full with mythology, symbols, lush colors, jaw dropping scenery, dreamlike music and lots of imagination. Coming from his heart, conceived years before he finally could commit it to celluloid, del Toro knows what strings to pull in the film which he also authored. As a director he prefers real sets, miniature shots and actors over CGI, and while the latter has its part as well, it is more a supportive role in order to tell the tale. Said tale is far more than the traditional good versus evil, it's about contrasts and the collision of worlds for sure, but also about choices within and outside realities if you will, about convictions and truths only found in one's self.
In a way "Pan's Labyrinth" has a lot to do with Terry Gilliam's absurd fantasy retro-sci-fi film "Brazil" or even "Tideland", though it differs distinctly in style from these examples. And like Gilliam's pictures "Pan's Labyrinth" is like a breath of fresh air for those who want to get out more of fantasy than the common orc bashing. "Pan's Labyrinth" is a fairy tale and tragic reality at the same time, a visual feast for the eye and food for thought, filmed poetry to be enjoyed and appreciated more with every viewing. If you like intelligent fantasy, this is your thing.