Dryvetyme Onlyne

Pan’s Labyrinth (El Laberinto del Fauno)
Picturehouse
Written & Directed by Guillermo del Toro
Produced by Alfonso Cuarón & Guillermo del Toro
Starring: Ivana Baquero as Ofelia
Maribel Verdú as Mercedes
Sergi López as Capitán Vidal
Ariadna Gil as Carmen Vidal
Álex Angulo as Dr. Ferreiro
Doug Jones as Pan/Pale Man
Rating 9.2

It’s hard to resist a good story. Whether you’re drawn in by the strong lead characters, the intricate plot twists, or the detailed description of the scenery, there are few things in this world as mentally, psychologically, or spiritually compelling as a well-written narrative. Stories can simply convey truths, spark interest, and stir emotions in a way that encyclopedias filled with facts and spreadsheets full of statistics never could. Yes, that information might be backed up by quality research and in-depth analysis, but we all know that people have been using and abusing “facts” to say whatever it is they want to say for centuries. Simply put, raw data is rarely as compelling as people and their stories – it’s the difference between an Enron spreadsheet and a Tolkien novel.

But let’s consider myths and fables a bit. We all remember myths and fables, don’t we? You know, they’re those stories told for time immemorial across the panoply of world cultures designed to teach people a specific moral lesson about human nature. And yes, this does mean that I’m referring to Aesop, The Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Andersen, Homer, Virgil, Shakespeare, and books of the Hebrew Bible like Job & Jonah. We tend to forget their depth, content, and origins, relegate them to the nursery, children’s anthology, or the Sunday School classroom, and then generally forget about them once we enter adolescence. It’s quite sad really – there are epic tales filled with intrinsic significance inherent to human development, but we’ve told ourselves that fairy tales are mere child’s play that only the Peter Pans of our culture give any credence.

Nevertheless, into the breach steps a cinematic event like Pan’s Labyrinth, written by the acclaimed director Guillermo del Toro, most notably Hellboy and Blade II fame. Continue reading “Pan’s Labyrinth”