Watchlist 2007

Pan's Labyrinth. This was an...interesting movie. Billed as a "fairy tale for adults", it's set in post civil-war Spain, a time when rebels were still roaming the countryside. Ofelia is a 10-year old girl who is caught up in the war when her mother marries an officer in the Spanish army situated in the countryside, assigned to flush out rebels. Her stepfather is a cold-hearted bastard, sure enough; he has no qualms over killing townsfolk who may be remotely connected to the rebels, even those who are just hunting for food.

The aforementioned Labyrinth offers Ofelia an escape from her miserable existence with her stepfather. The aforementioned "Pan" is not actually the God of the Pipes; instead, it is just a faun, much like the Tumnus the Faun in Narnia. This faun is the caretaker of the Labyrinth (thus the title, which in Spanish is literally "The Faun's Labyrinth". I guess they thought it sounded more dramatic using "Pan" for English-speaking audiences). The Faun claims to know Ofelia's destiny, and...well, you'll just have to watch the rest of it.

The movie is a gem. It's like Labyrinth (the one which introduced Jennifer Connelly) in reverse--instead of the heroine trying to escape from the labyrinth back to the real world, she is trying to get into the labyrinth--escaping from all her troubles in the real world. Instead of being light-hearted and whimsical, Pan's Labyrinth is quiet and thoughtful. It's actually a bit sad in a way. Both movies, though, have fantastical characters, and both have potential breakout stars--Connelly in one, Ivana Baquero in the other.

I highly recommend this movie. Note that it's subtitled--not that it matters. If you were able to follow the subtitles of Crouching Tiger and Amelie, you'll be able to follow this one.