Let it be said, you're going to be slightly cliched if you position yourself as a fairytale movie. And even more cliched if you position yourself in WWII times. Pan's Labyrinth is both, and still manages to be superbly original and stirring.
It's quite easy to apply a lot of positive adjectives here, but of course, just think of all of them. But Labyrinth is no happy movie (as most fairy tales are), and be sure to expect a violent, bleak film with brief interludes in the fantasy realm (which is no less harsh).
What is most striking is Del Toro's (the director) putting both fantasy and reality together: the brutal fascist regime in Spain and the magical world in which the protagonist, Ofelia, goes to, which is somewhat equally terrifying. And she is the only connection between the real world and the other world; no other people except her may see the creatures from that realm.
Which makes one wonder whether she is just dreaming or living it. But in the end, everything becomes clear.
In almost all aspects, this film is amazing and certainly emotionally powerful. And despite being a hopelessly sad movie, it is still a fairy tale, and so, as we see, ends like one.
It's quite easy to apply a lot of positive adjectives here, but of course, just think of all of them. But Labyrinth is no happy movie (as most fairy tales are), and be sure to expect a violent, bleak film with brief interludes in the fantasy realm (which is no less harsh).
What is most striking is Del Toro's (the director) putting both fantasy and reality together: the brutal fascist regime in Spain and the magical world in which the protagonist, Ofelia, goes to, which is somewhat equally terrifying. And she is the only connection between the real world and the other world; no other people except her may see the creatures from that realm.
Which makes one wonder whether she is just dreaming or living it. But in the end, everything becomes clear.
In almost all aspects, this film is amazing and certainly emotionally powerful. And despite being a hopelessly sad movie, it is still a fairy tale, and so, as we see, ends like one.
No comments:
Post a Comment