Sunday, January 28, 2007

Guillermo del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth


This film is set in post-Civil War northern Spain, in 1944. A young girl, Ofelia (Ivana Baquero), moves with her pregnant mother Carmen (Ariadna Gil), and her stepfather Captain Vidal (Sergi López), into a new home in the countryside. Vidal and his small army have been sent to the remote area to rid it of a small Republican militia.

Ofelia, who often immerses herself in ancient stories and fairy tales, finds an immense and ancient labyrinth near her new home. There, she meets a faun (Doug Jones) who reveals that she is the long-lost daughter of the King of the Underworld, and that to regain entry to her kingdom she must carry out three tasks. The faun gives her a storybook, which will tell her the details of the tasks.

For the remainder of the film, Ofelia accesses a strange and dangerous world of fairies and extraordinary creatures such as the terrifying Pale Man (also played by Doug Jones), while trying to cope with her abusive stepfather.

Visit the Official Movie Site for beautifully rendered e-cards, trailers, games, and more.

This movie is a beautifully haunting blend of poetry and fantasy. It is visual prose, and a must see!

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