Pan's Labyrinth (2006)

Set against the backdrop of World War II, Pan's Labyrinth is a brilliant work of imagination from Guillermo del Toro. Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) is a young girl who lives in the world of books on fairies and mythical creatures. Upon arrival at a war camp where her stepfather is waiting for her pregnant mother (Ariadna Gil), she chances upon a labyrinth where she meets a faun. The faun recognizes her as Princess Moanna, the daughter of the king of the underworld. "You were not born of man. It was the moon that bore you". But in order to ensure she has not turned into a mortal, she must complete three tasks "before the moon is full". The faun hands her the Book of Crossroads that will show her the future and what must be done.

As she sets off on completing each of her tasks, we also get a glimpse into the horrors of war in the real world. As her mother's weakness grows, she finds strength and support in Mercedes (Maribel Verdu). As she comes towards the completion of her 3rd task, we get to know the parallel fantasy world of fauns and fairies is just a figment of Ofelia's imagination, created in order to find an escape from the harsh realities around her. For her final task, she is asked by the faun for the blood of an innocent - her little brother. She chooses to sacrifice her right over immortality to protect her brother.

In the last scene we see Mercedes sitting by her dead body singing her a lullaby, while Ofelia is united with her father in the underworld and appreciated for having chosen well. The heartbreaking ending of the movie beautifully manages to depict the ways in which humans deal with and process the pain and agony around them.

Rating - 8.5/10