Pan's Labrynth

This movie is by far one of my favorite films if not just for the terribly beautiful fantasy element it brings to a vivid light. I love all that it has to offer as a whole. The story is haunting; the music is a blend of her harsh reality and somewhat scary fantasy world.

What drew me to this movie however was something i never got to elaborate in class, it was the lack of doubt in the little girl's mind about the fantasy world. Not in its characters or in its effectiveness, but in its existence. The second it came to her there was no period of questioning, she simply took it at face value and believed, up until the very end which made her parting so bitter sweet. From her hardships in reality, facing men that could not come to ever grasp the hopes of controlling her with anything outside of her mother, to her naivety to the violence around her at how her world had truy changed.

Yes it brings up questions as an audience, yes through her eyes we see something fantastically adventurous and brave, and startling child like without regard for consequence, but at the same time with the bold violence and pain around her it is like the only truth in a web of lies. Lies the mother tells to herself, lies of her security, lies of loyalty and allegiance.

This is one of the first movies that MADE me take sides almost mid stride, the feminine presence could not be ignored at every turn, the strength in these characters were subtle but obvious in so many ways, and when the maid finally twisted that knife in the general's (was he a general?) face i could not help but feel a surge of victory facing the same violence that he delt without regard. Mainly because you knew that the maid WOULD regard everything that she did once anger had drained as something that had to be done but at the same time regret. Because you know that she, unlike ophelia's step father, cared about what she did to him.