subject: Mexican Directors: Guillermo Del Toro [print this page] Director, producer, screenwriter, and novelist Guillermo del Toro grew up in a strict Catholic home in Guadalajara, Mexico. Which seems odd considering his reputation as a filmmaker in off-beat genres such as fantasy, weird fiction and war. Perhaps it was the striking Catholic symbolism that spurred del Toro on to study special effects, make-up design and eventually form his own company (Necropia). In any case, this is one Mexican director that has definitely made an impact on the film industry.
Del Toro likens the horror film genre to opposing political ideals. In a 2011 Time magazine interview, he explains there are two sides of horror. One is pro-institution, which is the most reprehensible type of fairy tale: don't wander into the woods, always obey your parents. The anti-establishment and completely anarchic type of fairy tale is the second kind. His depiction of the second film in the hugely popular Blade series certainly illustrates that explanation. Like the Hellboy films, which were both directed and written by del Toro.
Del Toro has always been a proud Mexican, contributing to community programs and even establishing the annual Guadalajara International Film Festival. Unfortunately del Toro is a Mexican National who cannot return to his native home. In 1997 he was given a sizable amount of money to make the film version of his screenplay Mimic, when his father was kidnapped for ransom. According to the 2011 Time magazine interview, the kidnappers eventually returned del Toro's father unharmed but demanded twice the ransom that was originally stated. To escape the payment, the entire family fled to the US and has never returned for fear of the consequences.
The most recent production to win accolades for del Toro is Pan's Labyrinth, which he wrote, directed, and produced. In true del Toro style, the film intertwines the real world with a fantasy world found in an overgrown labyrinth. The 'real world' setting takes place shortly after the Spanish Civil War in Spain, and follows the lead character's adventures with several magical creatures. The film was nominated for an Academy Award in Best Original Screenplay, the Golden Palm at Cannes Film Festival and several Saturn Awards. In the end, Pan's Labyrinth received the British Academy Film Award for Best Film not in the English Language and the Saturn George Pal Award.
These are among Guillermo del Toro's many completed projects. In fact, in the coming years he is expected to release film productions of a two part series on The Hobbit. Considering the filmography del Toro has under his belt, the Hobbit movies should be quite interesting!
