Reality is brutal and it will kill you, make no mistake about it, but our tales, our creatures and our heroes have a chance to live longer than any of us.

Guillermo Del Torro, writer and director, Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)

I expected Pan’s Labyrinth to be a fantastic film and was not disappointed. What I did not expect is its frightening nature – the way it moves from reality to fantasy and back, leaving the audience at a loss as to which world is practically, if not definitively, better.

The movie was released in 2006, and was set against the historical backdrop of the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). The director was apparently influenced by many oral folk stories and written fairy tales that juxtapose blood and violence with beauty and enchantment. It is with these visions of the supernatural that he gave life to the private world of the main protagonist, the young Ofelia, as those around her were dealing with pain, political tension, and unrelenting violence.

As with any fairy tale, there is clear demarcation between good and evil, except perhaps for the mythical Faun, who is “by turns playful, complimentary, and fierce.” The creature that will guide Ofelia to the secrets of the labyrinth, he is neither good nor bad; “uncaring but neutral.” Ofelia’s stepfather, Captain Vidal, is the representation of the ultimate evil in man. Assured, cold, and remorseless, his retribution in the end is both deserved and unregrettable. Her mother, Carmen, has fallen victim to the damsel in distress plight, believing that the Captain is the answer to the loneliness that being alone for so long brought. And then there was Mercedes, the housekeeper and Ofelia’s confidante, who had to find the strength and courage she didn’t know she had, to save herself from the clutches of the enemy.

The labyrinth where Ofelia has taken refuge isn’t the fairy tale kingdom of many Disney movies. It is dark, grimy, and filled with scary creatures. But she’d take it, in exchange for the dark life outside she got caught in the middle of. Outside the labyrinth, the rebel forces are fighting the fascists whose leader’s twisted ideologies allow him to act with utmost brutality, relenting only when he fears for his unborn son, Ofelia’s brother. Meanwhile, the Faun gave her three tasks to complete in order to go back to their world (she was told she was a princess who tried to live with the mortals). She relished the adventure and was thoroughly immersed in the fantasy, despite the seeming dangers that lie before her. As the director succinctly put it, “I believe fairy tales are ultimately about two things: facing the dragon or climbing back to our world inside.”

This is not a film I would recommend for most children, but adults will be dazzled by its stunning visuals and taut storytelling. It is, after all, a story about the human condition, the many forms of love, and the ultimate sacrifice. This movie is now available on DVD. Be prepared to give your full attention – subtitles may come in handy; it is entirely in Spanish.

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