Guillermo del Toro's masterpiece "Pan's Labyrinth" is an elegant descent into a nightmarish fairy kingdom. It is one of the finest examples of the style of magical realism in modern cinema, for the way it twists the fairy tale narrative to examine violent political change through the eyes of its young protagonist, Ofelia. "Pan's Labyrinth" is set in Spain under Franco's fascist rule during World War II. Ofelia's stepfather, the ruthless Captain Vidal, hunts republican rebels with sadistic glee. His character "stands not just for fascism but for any sort of authoritarian or totalitarian institution or belief system," any force that destroys the fundamental joys and beauty of being human such as independence and creativity (per Reel Thinking).
As a subversive work that rejects conformity and control, "Pan's Labyrinth" has some of the best use of magical realism in contemporary film. But the style has a long history, stretching...
As a subversive work that rejects conformity and control, "Pan's Labyrinth" has some of the best use of magical realism in contemporary film. But the style has a long history, stretching...
- 10/22/2022
- by Caroline Madden
- Slash Film
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