The Orphanage (2007) (El Orfanato)

“El Orfanato” is a film debut of Spanish film director Juan Antonio Bayona. The film was produced by his good friend Guillermo del Toro. “The Orphanage” has some similarity with Guillermo del Toro’s “Pan’s Labyrinth”, but it has more elements of horror.

The film grips from the start and keeps viewers tense till the end. The scenes are well-paced and each scene makes viewers to expect something bad. Three things that make a great film are all present in “The Orphanage”. The director has done a marvelous job. The performances, especially Belén Rueda’s acting, are excellent. But more importantly, the story itself is great and incredible. The story makes film not just a horror film, but, sad and heartbreaking story of mother. It takes place in Spain.

Laura (Belén Rueda) and her husband Carlos (Fernando Cayo) together with their seven-year-old adopted son, Simon move to the house of her childhood – orphanage, where she lived until her adoption. She wants to reopen orphanage for disabled children. But soon we find out that this is not an ordinary house.

Everything that makes a perfect horror house is present in this film; ghosts of children, cracking floors and doors and other strange noises. The combination of these stuff and other clever directorial maneuvers build the tension up throughout the film. I do not want to tell more about the film, because it is better to watch it without any idea what will happen to the characters.

I enjoyed "The Orphanage" very much and it left a lasting impression on me. You will definitely enjoy this film, but if you do not like horror films, then it is not for you. It is better watch something else.

Reviewer’s rating: 8.5 out of 10

Pan’s Labyrinth (2006) (El Laberinto del Fauno)

This is a Mexican fantasy-drama film written and directed by Mexican director, Guillermo del Toro. The film won numerous awards. Everything, starting from soundtracks and ending with scenes, is perfectly worked out in the film.

The story itself is beautiful and touching. As in many films of this type, darkness – real world and light – fairy tale, are interwoven in the story. It starts with a fairy tale of Princess Moanna who left her father’s underworld kingdom for the surface, never returned and died as a human. The king believed that one day her spirit will come back and ordered to leave open the doors to the surface.

After this sad story, we switch to 1944, post-civil war Spain of Franco’s rule. Ofelia (Ivana Baquero), a young girl who loves reading and fairy tales, travels with her pregnant mother Carmen (Ariadna Gil) to remote army base to join her stepfather  Captain Vidal (Sergi López i Ayats). Captain is a cruel character, who kills innocent people and has nothing good inside. The only person, who he seems to love, is his to-be-born son. But this is just an illusion. This love appears to be just an obsession. The moment he meets Ofelia, his gruesome personality becomes apparent.

On the night of their arrival to the army base, little insect, which Ofelia believes to be a fairy, leads her to the labyrinth, where she meets Faun. This grotesque creature tells her that she is that long-lost Princess Moanna. In order to return to the underworld kingdom, she should implement three tasks. One of these tasks is to get a dagger from the lair of the Pale Man, who eats children. Despite these atrocious details, the real world of her stepfather and ill mother is much more disturbing.

The ending is sad and moving. My adult part understood the reality as it is, while my childish part believed in what turned out to be the end. The director’s work and actors’ performances are excellent. The scenes, make-up, images, soundtracks, characters, dresses, hairstyles and many other things are highly well-thought and flawlessly made.

The film is a great watch in the company of friends. Though, it is based on fairy tale and young girl’s life, “Pan’s labyrinth” is not a film for children, or a family watch. Be prepared for strong emotions and some tears.

Reviewer’s rating: 9.0 out of 10

Biutiful (2010)

Biutiful is a strong and affecting film directed and written by Alejandro González Iñárritu, produced by Guillermo del Toro (and others), and starring Javier Bardem. It has been long since a film last induced so deep emotions and left an excellent impression on me. The story, director, and actors - all are 100 percent great.

Biutiful takes place in Barcelona, Spain. The main character, divorced father of two children, Uxbal is played by Javier Bardem. His acting is excellent and outstanding. Uxbal is in the middle of a big mess. He exploits and helps to large number of illegal African and Chinese immigrants. He earns his livelihood with petty criminality. Interestingly, Uxbal also has a psychic gift; he can see spirits of dead people. He makes some cash out of this gift.

His ex-wife Marambra is unreliable, hard-drinking and reckless woman who sleeps with Uxbal’s brother. She seemed psychotic to me. The story would not be this sad without Uxbal’s health condition. He has a prostate cancer. He neglected medical examinations and cancer has been metastasizing. He is left a couple of months to leave.

Uxbal tries to help people and make good deeds during this short time, but unfortunately a little turns out well. He struggles with pool of emotions: guilt, love, and worry for his children. He has nobody to leave Ana and Mateo. Here comes the wife of an African immigrant and her baby. He gives her money for taking care of his children.

Film starts and ends with Uxbal giving his mother’s ring to his daughter. I love Biutiful and I am happy that I watched it. It is a moving, touching, emotional, hard, massive film. You should definitely watch it as you will remember it for a long time.

Reviewer's rating: 9.0 out of 10