Rating- 4/5
Plot
The story takes place in post-civil war Spain in 1944. We open to the sight of a young girl on the ground covered in blood as the narrator explains the story of the Underground Realm, a place where there is no sadness or pain. Long ago, Princess Moanna of the Underground Realm escapes to Earth as she is very curious of the world. Upon escaping, she is blinded by the sun and forgets her past. She feels only pain on Earth and soon dies. Her father is stricken with grief, but holds to the hope that one day her spirit will return to him... and so he waits. This realm is a place that humans only know of as a fairy tale, but we soon learn that it is very real. We meet Ofelia and her pregnant mother Carmen as they travel to meet her new husband, Captain Vidal (think Hitler but with an sinister hands-on approach to torture). Pan's Labyrinth is the last remaining portal the King of the Underground Realm has open for his daughter to return. Ofelia stumbles upon it and learns she is Princess Moanna. Before she can return to her kingdom she must complete 3 tasks. We follow her as she attempts the tasks, and learn more of the evil and horror Captain Vidal is capable of. Her mother dies giving birth, and Ofelia must run away with her new born brother as Captain Vidal sets out to murder her. All I can say beyond this to avoid giving away the ending, is that real fairy tales might have happy endings, but sacrifices are always made.
Commentary
Wow. It was difficult for me to enjoy this movie as there were many graphic, violent scenes which made me squirm. For the sake of the project, I did watch every scene, but it was difficult. That being said, I have to appreciate the film for the same reason I disliked it. The reason this made the list is not the cinematography, or the magical world it created. This is on the list because it is a true fairy tale. Don't expect to see Disney's name anywhere near this one folks. We have both the magical and the mundane, the purely good and the horrifically evil, and the contrast of exquisite life to the gruesome death.
I am fighting the urge to critique this further and post arguments for how I think this is a ripoff of Harry Potter, but for those of you who bore easily... I shall resist. Thank you for reading.
Write to you soon,
Kendra
Also, if you wish to purchase this film, I highly recommend one of the choices below from Amazon.
* This is film 2/200 in what is now known as "The Cinema Project." For more information, read the post titled "Something To Blog About."
Very well written review! bonus points! I haven't seen this one yet but now I want to :)
ReplyDeletewell done!
ReplyDeleteYour decision not to say it's a ripoff of HP is wise, as it's not. Both narratives are drawing from the same deep well of pre-existing folklore.
ReplyDeleteI think this film is one of those beautiful, well-told stories that is nevertheless difficult to watch. I loved, it though.
Perhaps a new rule: if you find a small, mysterious door somewhere in your house, DON'T GO IN. Damn.