Guillermo Del Toro talks "Pan's Labyrinth"

Summary

The transcript offers a fascinating conversation with a filmmaker discussing his movie, which blends a fairy-tale innocence with dark, brutal realities. The film explores the impact of war on children, drawing comparisons to his earlier work, 'Devil's Backbone.' He shares insights into the challenges of creating a movie that mixes fantasy and violence, highlighting the difficulty of making such films in Hollywood. The director also discusses his long-standing friendship with fellow filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón, their differing views on childhood, and their collaborative efforts in the industry. The conversation touches on themes of childhood innocence, the role of fantasy in coping with brutality, and the complexities of filmmaking.

Takeaways

• 😀 The movie is described as a fairy tale for adults, blending childhood innocence with dark, brutal themes.
• 😀 The director acknowledges the existence of a harsh world, yet sees fantasy as a way to cope with it.
• 😀 The film explores what happens to children in war, focusing on post-war repression in Spain and the lingering violence.
• 😀 The movie combines both fantasy and violence, which makes it hard for Hollywood to market, as it's not suitable for children despite its fantastical elements.
• 😀 The director believes that those in their late teens and older would understand and appreciate the movie's deeper themes of violence and childhood.
• 😀 Hollywood has a tendency to avoid movies like this because of commercial considerations, but the director values making meaningful films over making them child-friendly.
• 😀 Despite both directors (the speaker and Alfonso) having movies opening around the same time, there is no sense of competition between them; they frequently collaborate instead.
• 😀 The directors have been friends for over 20 years, and their friendship helps them stay youthful and maintain a childlike perspective, despite their differing takes on childhood.
• 😀 The speaker sees childhood as dark and tortured, unlike Alfonso, who portrays a much more innocent and joyful view of it in his films.
• 😀 The speaker was offered the chance to direct the third Harry Potter movie, but he declined, as the book wasn't his favorite, despite appreciating the darker tone of the series.
• 😀 The movie poster features a reproductive image, symbolizing themes of rebirth, with the fantasy world being depicted in warm, visceral colors, contrasting with the cold, uninviting real world.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the movie discussed in the script?

The main theme of the movie is a fairy tale for grown-ups that explores the innocence of childhood and the brutal realities of the world, particularly focusing on the impact of war on children.

How does the director feel about combining fantasy and violence in the movie?

The director believes that combining fantasy with violence is crucial to the film's narrative. He argues that the fantasy world should be as real and as dangerous as the real world to effectively address the harshness of life, especially in the context of war.

Why did the director choose to make the movie outside of Hollywood?

The director felt that Hollywood would not be open to making a movie with such a mix of violence and fantasy. He highlights how a Hollywood producer suggested removing the violence for commercial success, which he rejected because the violence was integral to the film's message.

What is the significance of the letter 'R' mentioned in the script?

The letter 'R' refers to the movie's rating, indicating that the film is not suitable for children due to its mature content. The director emphasizes that the violence in the movie is not gratuitous and serves a meaningful purpose.

How does the director describe the impact of the movie's violence on the audience?

The director explains that the violence in the movie is intended to be thought-provoking and emotional, not something for viewers to emulate. He compares the level of violence to what is commonly found in video games or cable TV.

What is the relationship between the director and Alfonso Cuarón?

The director and Alfonso Cuarón have been friends for over 20 years, and they collaborate frequently on films. They co-produced the movie together, and while both have films opening around the same time, they maintain a supportive, non-competitive relationship.

What is the difference in how the two filmmakers view childhood and youth?

The director and Alfonso Cuarón have different perspectives on childhood. Cuarón's view is much sweeter and more innocent, as seen in films like 'Harry Potter.' In contrast, the director's portrayal is darker, with children facing more tortured and horrifying experiences.

Was the director ever offered the chance to direct a 'Harry Potter' movie?

Yes, the director was offered the opportunity to direct the third 'Harry Potter' film but declined because he was busy with other projects. He also mentions that he would have preferred to direct the first one, as he felt it was darker in tone than the movie adaptation.

What was the director’s opinion on the darkness of the first 'Harry Potter' book?

The director believed that the first 'Harry Potter' book was much darker than the film adaptation. He appreciated the Dickensian elements, such as the orphan's life with evil relatives, and thought it would have been a perfect fit for his style of filmmaking.

What is the symbolism behind the movie poster mentioned in the script?

The movie poster is described as having a reproductive or embryonic theme, with references to Fallopian tubes. It symbolizes rebirth, as the character in the film is being reborn into a new world. The movie also contains themes of childhood and innocence, with visual cues representing a return to the womb or mother’s belly.