El laberinto del fauno (2006)

Director:

Guillermo del Toro

Writer:

Guillermo del Toro (written by)

Release Date:

19 January 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Fantasy | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

What happens when make-believe believes it's real?

Plot:

In the fascist Spain of 1944, the bookish young stepdaughter of a sadistic army officer escapes into an eerie but captivating fantasy world.

Plot Keywords:

Spain | Fairy | Princess | Faun | Task

Awards:

Won 3 Oscars. Another 68 wins & 58 nominations

Cast

Ivana Baquero	...	Ofelia
Sergi López	...	Captain Vidal
Maribel Verdú	...	Mercedes
Doug Jones	...	Fauno / Pale Man
Ariadna Gil	...	Carmen Vidal
Álex Angulo	...	Doctor
Manolo Solo	...	Garcés
César Vea	...	Serrano
Roger Casamajor	...	Pedro
Ivan Massagué	...	El Tarta
Gonzalo Uriarte	...	Francés
Eusebio Lázaro	...	Padre
Francisco Vidal	...	Sacerdote (as Paco Vidal)
Juanjo Cucalón	...	Alcalde
Lina Mira	...	Esposa del alcalde

Also Known As:

Pan's Labyrinth (International: English title)
The Labyrinth of the Faun (International: English title) (informal literal title)

MPAA:

Rated R for graphic violence and some language.

Runtime:

UK:119 min | Finland:120 min | Canada:112 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

Spain | Mexico | USA

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:R | UK:15 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Ireland:16 (theatrical rating) | Italy:VM14 | France:-12 | Finland:K-15 | Singapore:R21 | Norway:15 | Australia:MA | Belgium:KNT | Singapore:NC-16 (cut) | Taiwan:R-12 | Germany:16 | Argentina:18 | Portugal:M/16 | Hong Kong:IIB | Spain:18 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | New Zealand:R16 | Malaysia:18PL | Netherlands:16 | Mexico:C | Philippines:R-13 (MTRCB) | South Korea:15 | Brazil:16 | Japan:PG-12 | Iceland:12 | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Sweden:15 | Ireland:18 (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

Belchite, Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain

Company:

Tequila Gang

Trivia:

The English subtitles were translated and written by Guillermo del Toro himself. He no longer trusts translators after having encountered problems with his previous subtitled movies.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Ofelia enters the lair of the Pale Man, she sets the hour glass down on the wall (where she entered). From when she puts it down to when it is next in shot, quite a lot of sand has fallen, and this is even before she's walked into the banquet chamber. There is no way that the sand would have lasted past when she was eating the grapes, let alone to when it supposedly did run out.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Pan: A long time ago, in the underground realm, where there are no lies or pain, there lived a Princess who dreamed of the human world. She dreamed of blue skies, soft breeze, and sunshine. One day, eluding her keepers, the Princess escaped. Once outside...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Visions of Stanley Kubrick (2007) (V)

Soundtrack:

The Refuge (El Refugio)

Toronto Film Festival: El Labirinto del Fauno

Guillermo Del Toro's new picture, the audacious fantasy ''El Labirinto del Fauno'' (or ''Pan's Labyrinth), captivated audiences at the Toronto Film Festival. A masterpiece, Del Toro magnificently puts to screen the magical story of a girl obsessed with fantasy stories that one day is trapped in her own world.

If every year we are meant to have a fantasy, then ''Fauno'' is this year's top movie. Differently of last year, where we had the terribly irregular ''Chronicles of Narnia'', this is a genuine fantasy movie, featuring a world we would all wish to have a look at. Much like Alice in Wonderland, this is a journey through a creative little girl's mind.

The story is set in Spain, 1944. At that time, the country was at war. What the movie does is sometimes connect the war with Ofelia's (Ivana Baquero) world. Her world is a visually impressive setting. A strong Oscar contender for Art-Direction, ''Fauno'' features many sights that are no where else to be found. And the creatures living in that world are nothing short of stunning. Pan (Doug Jones, who also had a role in Del Toro's ''Hellboy'', in which he played Abe Sapien) is a magical creature and brings back to viewers many childhood memories.

To top it off, ''Fauno'' is a perfect fairy tale. It is everything M. Night Shyamalan wanted ''Lady in the Water'' to be. Brilliantly directed, masterfully set up, and visually jaw dropping. This is the year's best fantasy film. And it seems it will remain that way.---10/10