The script is the main feature of this film. The story develops in two directions. The first is how a young girl, Ophelia, on behalf of Faun, performs three tasks. The second is the confrontation between Vidal’s army and the rebels. In general, this film shows one of the best combinations of the fantastic genre with the military. This film is probably the only one of its kind. Often there are action films-fantasy, comedy-fantasy, less often drama-fantasy, but that war film and fantasy, this is the first time I see. Of course, this is a great merit of the writers. Although, it often seems that these two branches of the same plot grow in different directions. In general, it is absolutely unclear whether they intersect or not, or all the fiction happens only in the head of Ophelia? Sometimes it feels like watching a series consisting of two episodes, which are connected only by the main character. Although I personally do not imagine how the storyline with Vidal could be woven fantasy. That during a shootout, trees would start to rise from the ground and trample soldiers? It would look very stupid, so I think every event, no matter what branch it unfolds in, is in place.
In ancient mythology, the faun is a kind, merciful god. This film seems to contradict this claim. In the film, he is portrayed as evil and bloodthirsty. This is especially true at the end of the film. Although, maybe it should be, because what the world around Ophelia is, and fauns. It was very interesting to watch the faun itself. In all the movies I've seen and where the faun has been, it's portrayed a little differently, but it's got it all over. Maybe it’s because the faun is an Italian mythological creature, and the film takes place in Spain, and there the fauns may be some other.
In general, the confrontation between fascists and rebels looks very realistic. Due to the fact that there were not so many skirmishes, it can be argued that the film plays more on psychology than on entertainment. And the budget for fantasy is very modest. It seems that all the money went to the fantastic branch of the film, but for the film it is a big plus. This makes him stand out from the rest.
Although there are overlaps between the stories. And even the very ending of the film speaks to what helped Ophelia survive in this infinitely violent world. The most obvious example of this brutality is, of course, Captain Vidal. Arrogant and cruel, it seemed that he had only two goals in life: to kill all the rebels and to have a son. Okay. He doesn't care about anything else. And even the doctor's words that if you kill him, a second one will come, then a third. In general, these words are very indicative in the sense that there are many such people in the world, and the only salvation for the world at that time were these rebels.
Of all the Guillermo Del Torro films I’ve seen, I liked this one the most. First of all, as I said, it’s a novelty. He offered a very original view of many problems. I especially liked the second test. I've seen something like this before, but I think of a story from the Bible. This is when God burned several cities, but before that he told the righteous to leave it, and when he walked, he did not look back, otherwise you will turn into stone. And as they walked, his wife turned, out of curiosity, and turned to stone. Something similar happened in that movie. Disobeying. She tasted the grapes purely out of curiosity, but the effect it has is curiosity. The forbidden fruit is sweet.
I can’t say enough about the great music in the film. Although it only sounded twice, in the middle and at the end of the film, but it exactly fits into this film.
Anyway, I really liked the movie. It kind of plunges you into the atmosphere of a gloomy fairy tale, with an ambiguous ending, but with a great plot in general. What a faun, like a scenery for a movie. You should have made up an actor like that. My assessment of the film:
9 out of 10
Original
