A quote attributed to Chesterton, although heavily paraphrased from his original words, reads: “Fairytales do not tell children that dragons exist; children already know dragons exist. Fairytales tell children that dragons can be killed.” Pan’s Labyrinth, Guillermo del Toro’s fairytale for adults, reminds us of the power and beauty of fairytales as a way to triumph over both spiritual and physical adversity. When young Ofelia’s (Ivana Baquero) mother remarries a sadistic general of the fascist army during the Spanish Civil War, the girl discovers a mysterious labyrinth and faun, both of which serve as a means of her waking up not only to the harsh realities of her daily life, but more importantly to the ways she can avoid succumbing to them. As she becomes increasingly aware of this supernatural world and its inextricable link with the physical world, Ofelia awakens to a sense of wonder and goodness that exist in both, even when they are difficult to find.
—Evan Cogswell
- Directed by: Guillermo del Toro
- Produced by: Alfonso Cuaron Guillermo del Toro Bertha Navarro Frida Torresblanco
- Written by: Guillermo del Toro
- Music by: Javier Navarrete
- Cinematography by: Guillermo Navarro
- Editing by: Bernat Vilaplana
- Release Date: 2006
- Running Time: 118
- Language: Spanish
Arts & Faith Lists:
2017 Top 25 Films on Waking Up — #23