Sunday, September 14, 2008

Pan's Labyrinth

I watched Pan's Labyrinth last night. Anything that mixes fantasy and politics is of interest to me. It was much more violent than I had thought it would be, but it made sense within the context of the film.

The movie's main theme was obedience to authority and the violence that will result when that condition is the primary virtue of the society. Ofelia is always put in the position of breaking her promise of obedience (an equivocal promise in regards to the Captain, a meaningful promise in regards to the faun) and both realms treat her with violence for her transgressions. The acts of her mother and of Mercedes, the housekeeper, all fall within the human realm and offer a more straightforwardly political perspective on the dangers of obedience.

It is a very timely movie.

Anglachel

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