Pan's Labyrinth

Wow.

On Wednesday evening (it's getting a little predictable this isn't it?) TA and I met up at the Picturehouse for Pan's Labyrinth.

TA got there for 6pm, which was just as well because I was late due to traffic, and the tickets were selling like hot cakes! We got two tickets with the Orange Wednesday code, but we were sat to one side of the screen, not bad seats, but I prefer a more central view!

When I arrived the place was heaving, and TA said that they had been shouting to the crowd that Pan's Labyrinth was sold out, but apparently, as is the British way - no one listens! More disappointingly, there were no freebies this week. :-(

Now, let me summarise the film - (a trailer for which is on my blog here.) - The premise is about a Princess who lives in an underworld kingdom, and is forbidden from coming up to the surface, but she sneaks out, and her memory is wiped by the blinding sunlight. It was prophesised that her soul would return to the kingdom one day, through a mortal child - Ofelia.

There are two essential strands in the film - the first follows a Captain in the Spanish Army who is trying to root out the dissidents in the hills, who oppose Franco. He wants to see Ofelia's mother give birth to his baby boy at any cost. But can he trust those who work for him? Can he kill the dissidents? Can he protect his son?

The second strand follows Ofelia after she meets a Faun in the Labyrinth near to the Captains rural camp. The faun (Pan) sets her three challenges to complete in order for her to return to her kingdom. The first sees her pit herself against a toad, the second a pits her against temptation, but will she sacrifice an innocent in the third task to return to her kingdom?

The film is fantastic, brilliantly filmed, although a little horrific in places, but tantalisingly thrilling in all the right ways. Although TA won't admit it - I have a feeling she'll be watching it on DVD - even the gory bits!!! Five stars!

I will indeedy be watching it again but I will NOT be watching the gory bits (I will be sat with my eyes closed & fingers in my ears, much similar to how I was in the cinema!) I don't know what it is about the film that's so great, it just is. In fact I would go so far as to say one of the best films I have seen this year if not ever. It was just beautifully made, not over the top, believable even (which given that we encounter fairies, fauns, a giant toad and a child-eating beast in a hidden world is saying something!) An amazing film. TA x