Entering The Labyrinth
In its ongoing coverage of the Cannes Film Festival, Andrew O’Hehir from Salon.com gives his picks of art films to watch for in the coming year. One in particular looked especially promising for those who enjoy pagan themes in film. I’m speaking of a new dark fantasy film from director Guillermo del Toro (Hellboy, Blade II), entitled “Pan’s Labyrinth”.
Doug Jones as Pan / The Pale Man
“Hands down the most exciting and original film I’ve seen here, and the one that had me in tears during its final scenes. Mexican director Guillermo del Toro is best known as the director of such fanboy classics as “Hellboy,” “Mimic” and “Blade 2,” which are cool enough in their way. “Pan’s Labyrinth” is something else again, and something far more powerful and original. Combining a fully convincing fantasy universe (drawn from a lifelong obsession with classic fairy tales) with a completely realistic story about the endgame of the Spanish Civil War, this film features a heart-rending performance from young Ivana Baquero as Ofelia, the teenage stepdaughter of a vicious Fascist officer (Sergi Lopez), who’s fighting a ragtag band of Republican guerrillas in a remote mountainous area. Ofelia’s ailing mother tells her that she’s too old for fairy tales, but the array of friendly and terrifying creatures she meets in the woods don’t seem to agree. If she can face a series of trials against the various monsters and demons of the region, she can prove herself as the King of the Underworld’s long-lost daughter. But neither the giant evil toad nor the eyeless child-eating gargoyle is as frightening as her stepdad, with his spit-shined shoes, his cracked watch and his revolver.” – Andrew O’Hehir, Salon.com
The man in the Pan-suit Doug Jones gives us this tempting bit of dialogue from the film on his web site.
Ofelia: My name is Ofelia. Who are you?
Pan: Me? I’ve had so many names…Old names that only the wind and the trees can pronounce. I am the mountain, the forest and the earth. I am…I am a faun. Your most humble servant, Your Highness.
The director, Guillermo del Toro, says that this film has been “the single most fulfilling creative experience of my career” and it looks like a wonderful picture. I will definitely be on the lookout for this once it hits American theatres.
One response so far
Definitely one of the most original, intriguing and exciting films ever.