Pan’s Labyrinth

In an effort to distract ourselves from the ensuing jobslaught, we decided to go and watch Del Toro’s Labirinto del Fauno, which was mind-blowingly good. It has a strong fantastic element, which helps to motivate the somewhat unlikely ending of the Civil War plot. Like any film which features a good number of (completely motivated) graphic torture scenes, it’s extremely difficult to watch. I found it a visceral viewing experience, almost like losing several gallons of blood. It has more than a little thematic overlap with The Spirit of the Beehive (Civil War, small girl, monster, Republican fugitives) but the tone/mode/mood are totally and completely different. Still, they would make a good double bill. I’d never seen any Del Toro films before, but those in the know said that this is in a different league from his others. What a feast of cinematic talent those Mexicans have at the moment, Innaritu excepted.