Pan's Labyrinth film review

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PAN'S LABYRINTH

Greeted in some critical circles as the cinematic equivalent of the Second Coming, Guillermo del Toro's latest venture returns in part to the world featured in his 2001 offering The Devil's Backbone: the Spanish Civil War and its particular effect on the mind and body of a young girl who becomes embroiled in one of its minor details. It's often engaging stuff, and it's magical/mystical elements are sure to please fans of that genre. Filmgoers who prefer to keep their feet on the ground may wonder just what all the fuss is about.

When young Ofelia (Ivana Baquera) is taken into the woods of Northern Spain by her mother to meet her new stepfather, she's sure of a nasty surprise. Capitan Vidal (Sergi Lopez) is a brutal militarist, who seems to care little for his bed-ridden new wife, and instead concentrates on capturing as many local guerillas as possible in the name of Franco's war. His shoot first, ask questions later policy makes him a force to be reckoned with as far as his soldiers are concerned, and especially useless in his new role of stepfather.

Ofelia retreats to her inner world and has soon conjured up a fantasy life of her own involving weird creatures who live in the forest. These strange animal-like humans give her a set of challenges which she duly undertakes: simultaneously the tensions in the Captain's household increase due to his suspicions that they may be harbouring a spy in their midst.

A bigger than usual leap of cinematic faith may be required with Pan's Labyrinth, but those who are happy with the ride may well find themselves utterly engrossed in it. However, it's also likely that large numbers of the audience may find the whole thing perplexing or even tedious in parts. This is solemn stuff.

The cast all perform perfectly well, especially Sergi Lopez as the brutal leader whose world begins to crumble around him. The technical credits are superb, with stunning camerawork and a gorgeous realisation of the magical world which or may not solely exist inside the child's head.

Paul Hurley