If you want to see a film that will knock you sideways on so many levels then I can highly recommend Pan's Labyrinth. This film (El Laberinto del Fauno in Spanish) is full of such vivid imagery, heart and beauty that it will stay in your mind for days. Directed by Guillermo del Toro (what is it with Mexican directors, Cuaron, Inarritu, now this man) the film is set in 1944 Spain. The fascist Franco government has just won the Civil War and a captain has brought troops and his family to northern Spain to fight the last remaining insurgents. The centrepiece of the film is Ofelia (pictured) played by Ivana Baquero. Her passive mother is about to give birth and the father is now her despised step-father, Captain Vidal (Sergi Lopez) who is easily a contender for one of the most vile cinema creations in recent memory. Arriving at their outpost in the country she stumbles across a Labyrinth inhabited by a Faun (Pan) and various dark creatures and angels. Now I normally would stay away from any kind of 'fantasy' film but the combination in this film of the real life battle between troops and insurgents and the child's dark fantasy world just makes a perfect blend. I won't go into anymore depth about the plot or Ofelia's encounters with the Underground, suffice to say that this film engages you throughout. Rarely do I see a movie of such rich characters, stunning cinematography and jaw dropping intensity. The film seems to me to be a story not only of human resistance but the struggle to find beauty in a sometimes dark world. It has been nominated for 6 Academy Awards, although NOT Best film. Also this is definitely not for children, Harry Potter it ain't.