What It’s About: In 1944, the Fascist troops battle Socialist hold-outs in the mountains of Spain. Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) travels with her mother Carmen (Adriana Gil) to the country to meet her stepfather, Captain Vidal (Sergi Lopez), who is leading the troops against the rebels. Ofelia meets a fairy, who takes her to a maze. In the center of the maze is a faun (Doug Jones) who tells her he can take her to meet her father if she does what he says. Are Ofelia’s encounters real, and can she trust the faun?
Why Watch it Today?: The Spanish Civil War, whose aftermath forms the backdrop to Guillermo Del Toro’s excellent fantasy drama, came to an end today in 1938.
The League of Dead Films 
I thought that this movie was beautiful when I saw it (also, enchanting). The plot did not seem so deep–but that didn’t matter so much. It is just so well done.