Modern Fairy Tales on Film: Pan’s Labyrinth

Join host Adam Nayman as he discusses Guillermo Del Toro’s mythical masterpiece with critic Soraya Sebghati and author Silvia Moreno-Garcia.

In this continuation of Toronto Public Library’s virtual series on Modern Fairy Tales on Film, host Adam Nayman explores Pan’s Labyrinth, the dark fantasy of Guillermo Del Toro, which premiered to critical acclaim and popular success in 2006. Set against the nightmarish backdrop of Francoist Spain, the film centres upon the adventurous Ofelia, a child who discovers the titular overgrown labyrinth, and strikes up a beguiling relationship with a mysterious faun. The story is a springboard for some of Del Toro’s most audacious flights of fancy, combining animatronics with CGI to create a singular visual masterpiece. Along with critic Soraya Sebghati and author Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Nayman will navigate the twisted byways of this maze-like masterpiece, all the way to the heart of its mythical allure.