"Pan's Labyrinth" is so strange and unique that it has taken me over a week to write about it. Billed as a fairy tale, this is also a violent yet poetic tale of pain and love.
Set in 1944 Spain, during the Spanish Civil War, "Labyrinth" is a story in two parts. One follows the violence of war, as the fascist Spanish army tries to take out the rebels. The other follows the tale of a lonely little girl and her pregnant mother who move in with the leader of the Spanish army. The girl wants nothing to do with the man who lusts after her mother, and makes every effort to avoid him. This is when she discovers a garden labyrinth which introduces her to magical creatures.
This is the fairy tale. The lead creature, Pan, sends the girl on a mission to recover items that will bring peace to his world. It is up to her to find these things, while also putting her life in jeopardy. More perilous is her life outside the labyrinth, where other dramas continue to unfold as her mother's own health worsens.
Be aware that the entire movie is in subtitles as the Spanish cast lays out a rich and deep storyline. The special effects are impressive, as are the performances. At the same time, this was unexpectedly violent, with an ending that I didn't see coming but fully appreciated. "Labyrinth" isn't a movie for everyone, but those that have seen it leave raving about it. As for me, I don't regret seeing it at all, but didn't find it as mesmerizing as some others. I give it an A-.
"Pan's Labyrinth" is rated R with a running time of 110 minutes.
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