A Flawless Integration of Fantasy and Reality: Review of Pan's Labyrinth

Pan’s Labyrinth is a movie that has received a lot of attention and great critical acclaim since its 2006 release. It’s a fantasy movie, and therefore outside of my usual viewing genre. But such are the reviews that I had to check it out for myself. It’s a Spanish-language, subtitled movie, written, directed and produced by Guillermo del Toro whose previous claims to fame had been Hellboy (currently Hellboy II) and Blade II.


The movie takes place in the aftermath of the Spanish civil war, where the fascist military continues to struggle in oppressing the Maquis guerillas. Our protagonist is Ofelia (Ivana Baquero), a 12 year old girl whose father died in the war. Alongside the ongoing war, Ofelia’s passion for fairytales is the second theme for the movie. Along with her pregnant mother, the two travel to a military outpost to be with her now stepfather, the sinister Captain Vidal (Sergi López).


This is a somewhat dire and miserable reality for Ofelia, who longs to join the characters in her fairytales. This becomes possible when she discovers the secret portal inside the camp’s labyrinth. Inside this world she toys with a secret life as a long lost princess, meets a 7 foot faun who feeds her instructions and undertakes missions, braving a giant toad and the infamous Pale Man. What we’re never really sure of is where the real world ends, and Ofelia’s imagination begins. There are a couple of clues or suggestions but I still don’t think there’s a conclusive answer. This is a huge tribute to del Toro’s artistry as he seamlessly intertwines between the two worlds.


In the “make believe” world we have some magnificent special effects, as the director employs a combination of puppetry and CGI. The atmosphere is almost nightmarish. As a veteran of the fairytale, Ofelia’s ease and assuredness may be unsurprising. But as an audience we’re left with chills and doubts as to the dangers that lay within. The fawn is no Mr. Tumnus. He’s a dark figure who you’re not really sure whether you can trust. And that’s supposed to be the escape from the harsh reality of life at a military outpost.


In the real world we’re faced with the malicious Captain Vidal, a figure so narcissistic that he appears clean, pressed and manicured in every scene. We witness his brutality and uncompromising style. Sergi López has created a character that will undoubtedly take his seat in the “Bad Guy Hall of Fame.” We witness the struggles of the civil war, the resistance of the peasants, the collaborations and suspicion. Some of the scenes are pretty bloody and graphic and serve as a reminder that there is a real story going on here, a story with a message. It removes us from the preconceived notion that this is just a fantasy movie.


There are many inspirations that come to mind in this movie, most notably The Chronicles of Narnia, but also prevalent are concepts from Alice in Wonderland and Harry Potter. Pan’s Labyrinth’s biggest achievement is in its integration between fantasy and harsh reality. Reading around, some have argued that it’s too graphic to be considered a kid’s movie. I’d argue that it’s still essentially a kid’s movie, probably appropriate for the 10+ crowd, but parents should use discretion. My best comparison for content would probably be The Lord of the Rings.


Pan’s Labyrinth really did live up to all the hype. I highly recommend this movie. Everything from the basic premise to the acting and visualization are flawless.

This review is part of CaptainD's 2008 Good Movie Write Off.