Pan’s People (you have to be a certain age to get this gag…sheesh)
I'm a little late with this so forgive me but I felt it imperative to correct some wrong in the world. I recently explained my utter dislike of Babel which I wont do again but it's enough to say it's as miserly a piece of cinema as you're likely to see. SO to restore some balance to the force I thought I'd recount my experience with Pan's Labyrinth. Written and Directed by Guillermo Del Toro (Hellboy, Blade II, The Devil's Backbone - apparently a mirror image of this film!).
It's the story of a young girl who is forced to move to the Spanish countryside with her mother, who in turn is pregnant with the child of the villages psychotic Captain. The Capitan is interested in only one thing that of his prospective son. All of this is set against the back drop of Franco's rise and the brutal culture that brought with it.
Okay so that's the basics but what Del Toro delivers is utterly stunning, to escape the madness of the world around her Ofilia the young girl escapes into a fantastical world which by stark contrast to the gray severe world of Fascist Spain is literally mesmerizing. The fantasy is warm and rich and populated by Fairies, and various magical creatures including the famed Pan. What impresses is the attention to detail how everything conspires to relay the narrative from the stunning sound design, Pan creaks and groans symphonically, to the character design which beautifully blends physical effects with CGI. The fact that he could have used CGI but didn't adds to the magic and the crafted skill with which he tells his tale. Del Toro's visual language is also amazing capturing all the darkness of the Brothers Grimm though what feels like a horror film but skillfully avoiding the gore whilst retaining the tension. The film is beautiful, beguiling, sublimely acted and an utter delight. Sadly I doubt I'll come across anything like this for a very long time…but if you haven't seen it do, and cross your fingers it cleans up at the Oscars and not the rubbish Babel. It has restored my faith in film making.
N.B Pan's People where a dance troupe that would grace the set of Top of the Pops back int he 70's and has nothing what so ever to do with this review.
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January 29th, 2007 at 11:33 pm
Great review, this movie is a real masterpeace and hard to fault at any level. I was blown away by Sergi López’ performance as Capitán Vidal so brutal and fierce, yet almost sad like a school bully, I’m now on a hunt for his other movies.