National Society of Film Critics pick "Pan's Labyrinth"

By: Karl Schneider
Date: Monday, January 08, 2007
Source: Hollywood Reporter

The National Society of Film Critics voted Guillermo del Toro's film Pan's Labyrinth as the best picture of 2006 during their annual meeting.

The film is the story of a young girl who travels with her pregnant mother to live with her mother's new husband in a rural area up North in Spain, 1944, after Franco's victory. The girl lives in an imaginary world of her own creation and faces the real world with much chagrin. Post-war Fascist repression is at its height in rural Spain and the girl must come to terms with that through a fable of her own.

With a membership that includes 58 critics from around the country, with 45 of them taking part in the voting, the National Society uses a weighted balloting system, and Labyrinth pulled ahead of Lazurescu by three points. Labyrinth scored 34, Lazarescu claimed 31 and Letters followed with 29.


KJ's Take:  It will be very interesting to see what films are nominated for the Best Picture Oscar.  I think Pans has a better shot at the Best Foreign Film Oscar, but who knows.  It should be a great battle between Pans, Children of Men, Departed and a few other films.  I can't wait to see the nominations!