The collective experience of audiences in a cinema watching great films is at the heart what Park Circus is about. We love films, shared stories and escapism, and have asked some of our friends from across the film industry to recommend some of their favourite films for audiences to enjoy when it is safe for cinemas to reopen.
This week, aspiring filmmaker Najmun Khan takes us through some of of her personal favourites. Najmun is an alumna of the Iconic Steps programme, who help to develop a growth mindset in young people to overcome barriers and develop iconic careers in the film industry.
In my filmmaking, I aspire to create fantasy drama like Guillermo Del Toro because he writes captivating characters with complex stories and directs with an aesthetic that enhances the world that he builds for his audiences. His fascination with monsters really resonates with me, as I like creating mythical characters in my own filmmaking. So I have chosen to recommend three films that were directed by del Toro, all with amazing stories and fantastic sets. I find his films to be so aesthetically compelling and I would highly recommend others to watch his work and hopefully see what I see!
The Shape of Water tells of a forbidden love between a human and an amphibian creature who communicate with sign language, slowly beginning to truly understand each other. Guillermo Del Toro's use of transition from reality to dream is imaginative and surreal. His play on reality and fiction makes you feel like you really are in the world he portrays. The movie’s twists and turns make you feel a true connection with the characters. I recommend you watch this film and find what happens to them!
Guillermo del Toro behind the scenes on The Shape of Water
Pan’s Labyrinth is a fascinating adventure story about a young girl set during Falangist Spain 1944. With its surreal use of a fairy tale setting alongside the monster, and the backdrop of the war, you can see her struggle as she fights for immortality. The story is only enhanced by the vivid use of colours in the creatures around her and the fantasy world del Toro has created.
Hellboy II: The Golden Army features a team with supernatural abilities racing against time to prevent a mythical Prince from awakening The Golden Army, who are set on destroying the world. The character dynamics are fascinating to me, as the team tries to work together to defeat the Prince. I watched this when I was pretty young - and it challenged my perception of what defines a ‘hero’.
Hellboy is unlike any hero you would expect to save humanity but with his ability to empathise with humans, he makes me realise the concept of hero can be beyond simply who is good and bad - as our experiences are what define us, not the way we look.
Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008)
Iconic Steps aims to develop a growth mindset in young people so they can overcome barriers and take their first steps towards an Iconic career. They are a social enterprise that supports young people aged 16-25, from hard to reach backgrounds, to acquire much needed skills, experience and confidence and increase their opportunities in entering the media industry. Their crew of skilled young people work on commissioned projects and produce compelling video and photo content.
