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January 2007
PANS LABYRINTH (El Laberinto del Fauno) |
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by Kam Williams
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Upon arriving, Ofelia finds herself ignored by both her very pregnant, bed-ridden mom and by her callous stepfather who is preoccupied with the war, at least when not wishing that his wife is about to bear him a son. Surrounded by the constant sight of soldiers and the cruelty of the bloody conflict, the terrified tyke is fortunate to find a sympathetic soul in Mercedes (Maribel Verdu), a housekeeper who shares a secret refuge from all the madness, a neglected garden labyrinth located nearby. Ofelia soon finds herself frequently seeking to escape her loneliness and emotional pain in this overrun oasis of solitude. There, her fertile imagination blossoms as she wanders along its maze-like winding paths, finding a bounty of frightening creatures springing to life. One of Ofelia’s pretend friends, a half-goat/half-man faun, Pan (Doug Jones), informs her that she is the long-lost princess of this peaceable kingdom’s underworld. But in order to descend to her throne where she will be reunited with her real father, the curious lass must first complete a trio of dangerous tasks.
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