Venus Rising

Film & BooksIssue: Pisces 07

Pan’s Labyrinth

In this phenomenal Spanish film, the bookish young stepdaughter of a sadistic army general escapes into an eerie but captivating fantasy world. Beautiful in its imagery and horrifying in its brutality, Oscar nominated “Pan’s Labyrinth” merges the mythic underworld of fairy tales with the reality of Spain’s descent into fascism after the Spanish Civil War.

Written by and directed by Guillermo del Toro, “Pan’s Labyrinth” is Set in Franco’s Spain of 1944. Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) and her mother, Carmen (Ariadna Gil), have just traveled to a wooded estate to live with Captain Vidal (Sergi López), an officer in Franco’s army and Ofelia’s new step father. The forest appears to Ofelia as magical with carved stones and ancient structures. Captain Vidal immediately displays his disapproval of Ofelia’s attention to magic and fairy tales. He also makes it clear to everyone that he is only interested in Carmen because she is pregnant with his son.

As Ofelia enters this terrible circumstance, she longs to believe that what she reads in her fairy tales is real and begins to explore the enchanted woods around her. She soon encounters small fairies, a giant toad, and a man-like faun who gives her three tasks to complete before she can reclaim her throne as princess. These tasks take her on a frightening journey that powerfully recreates some elements of the myth of Hades and Persephone. Somehow in life and in dreams, Ofelia must make the passage into darkness, and still maintain her integrity. This film simultaneously shows how the adults of this time period are forced to do the same as they are tortured by Captain Vidal and the ruthless tide of fascism.

“Pan’s Labyrinth” is at times difficult to watch, but the message and the superb story telling in this film make the dangerous crossing worthwhile. I believe “Pan’s Labyrinth” more than deserves an academy award and is one of the most creative pieces of magic realism yet.