Finally got to see the movie Pan’s Labyrinth. Thoroughly recommend this movie to anyone who likes something a little off beat.
It is only showing at one theatre in Canberra (DENDY). The theatre was damaged during the torrential rains we had recently and the theatre has been closed, so it took three attempts to see it, as each time we rocked up at the theatre it was still closed.
DENDY is fairly new in Canberra and the tickets are a lot cheaper than Hoyts. So I guess we will be going there a lot more often. I love going to the movies but find the cost of tickets offputting.
The theatre is modern looking and the seats are very comfortable. Must say I enjoyed the experience.
As for the movie, I was enthralled the whole way through so I can see why it won 3 Oscars.
The story is set against the backdrop of fascist Spain in the 40’s. A young girl goes with her pregnant mother to live with her cruel stepfather in a military outpost. Ofelia weaves a fantasy world to escape the harsh realities of her new life. In her fantasy world, she is taken by a fairie to meet an ancient faun. He tells her she is a princess but she needs to prove that she is royal by completing three tasks. Once these tasks are completed she will be able to take her rightful place in the kingdom with her father, the king.
The movie is brutal in it’s depiction of the stepfather and his dealings with all around him, including Ofelia and the local insurgents. It shows how children deal with brutality and harshness of the real world by escaping into their own magical realm in which everything is perfect.
The movie is well worth seeing and it’s not suitable for young children. A couple had brought their child along, and the father ended up taking the child out of the theatre. It is an adult fantasy. The costumes and fantasy characters are just amazing.
The movie was produced by Guillermo del Toro who also wrote the screenplay and what a fantastic job he has done.