The Making of a Poem

Rating: 10/10 (6 January 2008)

"El laberinto del Fauno" is a poem. Delightful and frightening. The whispering woods, home to what will be an awful scenario of war, almost speak. They blow magically and enigmatically. The camera plays all the time, presenting the story in a smooth way, artistic and contemplative. The toying around with the focus makes the impression of a vivid experience, like we are really present in the story.
The script is delicious; mixing two stories in one. The story of a war liberated in times of the decade on 1940, with the fascist army of Franco liberating a war against the rebels in the mountains. The other story centers on Ofelia, a girl whose mother engages with a cold-blooded, soul-less Captain Vidal that with the facility that he polishes clean his boots, fits his impeccable uniform and shaves with unsullied effort he can kill a man with no second thoughts, or torture a youngster with the same feeling. Sergi Lopez confers the character an incredible interpretation, with freezing looks and inhumane gestures.
Ivana Baquero as young Ofelia does a flawless performance. The cast is superb, imposing realism over melodramatic attempts. Guillermo del Toro does a poetry work, something off the books of Hollywood with a fresh, innovative story.
The greatest aspect of this film goes to the visuals. A stunning make-up that brings to life mythological creatures and a faultless art direction that with a small naive appearance imposes the world a breathtaking look. The contrast with the war freed upon the mountains makes this aspect a lot better. The managing to keep both of this worlds apart but innocently inter-related makes the experience breathtaking.
This movie is a beautiful poem, written and directed in a mature and royal way. It may have a brutal imagine catalog but it's worth all the way. Keep it in Spanish to admire the softness of the language.
Please watch this film, it's fierce good.