Editor's Note: When I received this compelling review of Pan's Labyrinth from my sister, Donna, in an e-mail, I couldn't resist adding it to my blog. I love the idea of occasionally having guest writers. Mike is my sister's husband.
I don't know if either one of you have seen Pan's Labyrinth, but Mike and I rented the DVD and it was so good. It is a Spanish movie directed by the Mexican director, Guillermo del Toro. The movie is subtitled, but like the Chinese movie"Crouching Tigers, Hidden Dragons", it did not take away from it. Actually, it made the movie richer to see the actors speak in their native tongue. The movie is also known as El Laberinto del Fauno.
The story is a mixture of fantasy and hard reality. It takes place in Northern Spain after the Spanish Civil War when Franco's Nationalists came into power. It is a combination of brutal and cruel violence and beautiful fantasy. All of this seen from the perspective of an 11 year-old-girl.
If you have not seen it, I must let you know that parts of the movie are sensitive and beautiful and parts are graphically violent and emotionally gut wrenching. The movie, however, keeps you mesmerized. I have not been that affected by a movie in a long time. You should have seen Mike and I crying, and Mike does not cry easily.
The acting is superb. There is only one American actor who played the dual role of the faun and the pale man.
The movie won an Oscar for best foreign film this year and received a 22 minute ovation at the Cannes film festival. As difficult as the movie could be at times, I loved it. It will definitely go on my favorite movie list.
This same director is known in the US for directing "Hellboy", which you may or may not have seen or liked. He also made, what he referred to as a "sister movie" several years ago (juxtaposing the supernatural against reality) called "The Devil's Backbone" also in Spain and also about the Spanish Civil war, which we rented and also liked. Pan's Labyrinth, however, is a masterpiece. I wished I had seen it on the big screen.
If you have not seen it, rent it. If you have seen it, let me know how you felt about the movie.
Donna
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3 comments:
Sometimes a laudatory review of a film causes me to avoid the film. I do not base my behavior on the artistic merits of the film, but rather upon my own taste. I do not enjoy graphically violent films -- at least not any more.
Kam,
I'm sorry to hear you feel that way. I obviously disagree.
Kathi
I meant no disrespect. On the contrary, I find a fair and favorable review helpful in guiding my personal movie selections. This review helped me avoid a masterpiece that nevertheless would have upset me.
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