Pan's Labyrinth (2006)

 

If you like fairytales and emotionally gutwrenching stories that are absolutely beautiful, then this absolutely will be a movie for you. It is that damn good. Heck, it might even be director Guillermo Del Toro's best project ever and that is saying quite a bit. It feels personal, it's packed with strong characters and the visuals are stunning.

In fact, you can just as easily stop reading and go watch it right away.

No? 

Okay then.

The year is 1944 and we're fully in Franco's fascist Spain. Ofelia, a young girl, is travelling with her pregnant mother to capitan Vidal, the new husband and soon to be father, as Ofelia's mom is close to giving birth. Ofelia is obsessed with reading stories and doesn't want to be out there in the middle of nowhere. She doesn't really like Vidal either, which is not that hard to understand as Vidal is a terrifyingly hardcore fascist who only cares about his legacy and doesn't give a hoot about either Ofelia or her mother. 

Yes, a real swell guy, to be sure.

Ofelia comes across a fairy and is led to a labyrinth, where a faun tells her she is the reincarnation of a princess from the underworld. She has to complete three tasks in order to return to her original realm or else be human forever. But while all this is happening (or is it?), Vidal is hunting for rebels in the mountains and there are further complications along the way... It raises the question who the real monster is. Is it the fantasy creatures Ofelia comes across or is it those that seem all too human on the outside?

The story works so well, because Ofelia is a wonderful character. She is a child with a lot of fantasy, but anyone can instantly relate. The same goes for people like Mercedes and the doctor, who are trying to make the best of what is a pretty shitty situation. Del Toro pulls you in and by the end you will be so emotionally invested, your heart might break. 

Also: Vidal is a horrendous person whom you'll love to hate, but he is not a caricature. He feels all too real, which makes him even worse. 

In opposition to the real world, the fantasy elements are gorgeously put in place and integrate excellently with the 'human' world. The faun looks awesome, less like a goatperson and more like treeroots come to life. Probably the most famous image of the story is the Thin Man who has eyes in his hands, but in context he becomes even scarier. This might not be for the youngest among you and that is an understatement. 

Anyway: the acting is great, the visuals stunning, the story gripping and everything just falls neatly into place. 

In short: this is a masterpiece, plain and simple.