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'Pan's Labyrinth' Is Realer than Reality Itself

What Guillermo del Toro has accomplished in Pan's Labyrinth cannot easily be put into words.

That's because the Mexican-born director is a master creator of images, atmosphere and mood who uses his gifts as a fantasist to do make imaginary worlds seem realer than reality itself.

Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Kenneth Turan is the film critic for the Los Angeles Times and NPR's Morning Edition, as well as the director of the Los Angeles Times Book Prizes. He has been a staff writer for the Washington Post and TV Guide, and served as the Times' book review editor.