pan’s labyrinth
This was my second viewing of this film and I thought it was better the second time around. My Spanish is ok but not great, so the first time round I was looking at the subtitles as much as the film itself. But the second time I was listening a lot more. There didn’t seem to be too many idioms and it was all spoken very clearly. At least clearly enough for me to understand.
The whole feel of the film has this fairy tale quality and more like an old fairy tale rather than the modern politically correct disney computer generated nonsense. This gritty blue black offering from Guillermo del Toro has been called a masterpiece by some critics and placed up there with the likes of Citizen Kane. I wouldn’t go that far, but it certainly is good. Spain under Franco was tough, very tough but there were people that stood up to him even though they knew that they could be tortured and killed. And so the little girl takes on the trials knowing that she may not make it.
It’s beautiful, gritty, realistic, poetic and at times very difficult to watch, but all part of a coherent whole. Children are afraid of the dark (and adults too) and that is where the monsters lurk. But there are monsters lurking in the daylight as well. And there comes a time when we have to stop running and face our demons. When we have a belief in something greater than ourselves then we can commit ourselves fully, and we’re not afraid anymore.
The melody of the lullaby at the end of the film captures and encapsulates the film so well. This is a must see movie.