Twenty years after a 22-minute standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival, Guillermo del Toro has returned to screen a restoration of his beloved film 'Pan's Labyrinth.' The director, who premiered the dark fairy tale in 2006, recalled the anxiety he felt before that historic screening. 'It was toward the end of the festival and many journalists had left. The movie's production had been a nightmare,' del Toro said. Then the audience erupted into applause for 22 minutes, the longest ovation in Cannes history.
Del Toro joked about the ovation, saying, 'It's a commute. That's about what it takes me to get from home to the office.' His producer Alfonso Cuaron advised him to 'let it in. Relax.' But del Toro admitted he was tense: 'I'm not very good with praise.'
On Tuesday, del Toro returned to Cannes for a screening of the restored version of 'Pan's Labyrinth.' The film, set against 1944 Francoist Spain, follows young Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) who moves in with her fascist stepfather, Captain Vidal (Sergi López). The movie showcases del Toro's earthy and imaginative style, with books that come alive, doors appearing from chalk outlines, and creatures like fairies, a faun, and the unforgettable Pale Man with eyes in his palms.
Del Toro considers 'Pan's Labyrinth' a pivot point in his career. At the time, he was known for 'Hellboy' and 'Blade 2' but not widely recognized. He said he was receiving Marvel offers but chose to make a film 'no one wanted to finance.' The production faced numerous challenges, including a major financier pulling out after del Toro moved his family to Spain for the shoot. 'I said: I'm staying. We're going to make this movie,' he recalled.
Forest fires in Spain also complicated filming, requiring months of irrigation to create the lush forest in the movie. 'Every lush tree you see, we made lush. Every fern we planted,' del Toro said. The iconic tree in the film was the work of art designer Eugenio Caballero. Del Toro emphasized the importance of handcrafted artistry, especially in an era of AI filmmaking: 'I think people intrinsically know when you've made an effort. They sense that it's important to you in the craftsmanship.'
Ivana Baquero, who was 11 when she shot the film, also attended the Cannes screening. Now 31, she recalled del Toro treating her like an adult during auditions, giving her homework and dark movie references like 'Grave of Fireflies.' She said she can now enjoy the film more with time, distancing herself from the girl she played.
'Pan's Labyrinth' went on to earn six Oscar nominations and win three, for cinematography, art direction, and makeup. But del Toro cherishes the memory of screening the film for Stephen King, traveling to Maine with his reels. 'The Pale Man had him squirming big time,' del Toro said.
The film will be rereleased in theaters by Cineverse and Fathom Entertainment on October 9. Del Toro, who has since made 'The Shape of Water' and 'Frankenstein,' reflects on the magic in the world: 'I have experienced it in the real world. Not fauns and pale men and ferries, but I find that when your will lines up with the life stream of the cosmos, you see things that happen that are tremendous.'
