When you come to see the posters for this movie, you will recognize him as the one with his eyeballs in his palms! All of the fantasy effects are simply but strikingly done without spending the requisite millions of so many other recent films.
Back in the real world, Ofelia's only ally is the feisty housekeeper played by Maribel Verdu, familiar to many buffs as the lust-object from Y Tu Mama Tambien. Hers is an extremely strong role and she proves to be as single-minded as both the captain and, ultimately, Ofelia.
Del Toro was at the festival to introduce his film and to answer questions afterwards. He said he considers this film to be perfect, and I for one would not disagree with him. In between making Spanish language movies, he has also accepted the Hollywood shilling, but even with these there is much to admire. What he has created in this movie is an absorbing hybrid of the war, horror, and fantasy genres combined into a jet-black fable.
Miss it at your peril.
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