"Pan's Labyrinth" was a Fantastical Adventure | Review and Analysis

2006 - Fantasy/Drama/War

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For a movie that was released in 2006, there’s not much I can say about “Pan’s Labyrinth” that hasn’t already been said. However, having been late to the game with today, April 9th, 2022, being the first day I ever watched this legendary film, I can’t contain my high praise! “Pan’s Labyrinth” is a film I have heard about for several years since its release, but always found myself putting off watching with unknown reasons as to why. The terrifyingly beautiful lullaby from the movie’s soundtrack, captivating theatrical release picture, and fantastical creatures, such as the Faun and the Pale Man, remain as iconic features that those never having seen the movie can recognize; myself included. As such, watching this movie for the first time was a very pleasant experience for me, placing this as possibly one of the best films I’ve ever seen.

The film, starting with the imagery of life flowing out of a young girl while blood streams from her panting body, is ended in the exact same way, allowing viewers opportunity to see the circle of events that led to the haunting scene. Written and directed by Guillermo del Toro, “Pan’s Labyrinth” showcases the fantastical journey of Ofelia, a young girl seeking escapism from her pregnant mother’s new abusive husband, Captain Vidal, during 1944 after the Spanish War. Captain Vidal, cruel and heartless, attempts to locate the hidden Republican rebels located in the forest outside his base, while Mercedes, the inconspicuous housekeeper, secretly aids the Republican cause and her brother, Pedro, who happens to be a member of it. Meanwhile, Ofelia encounters a faun who informs her that she is the lost princess of the underworld, sending her on various missions in attempt to restore her position within the kingdom.

THE PARALLELS BETWEEN VIDAL AND OFELIA

Now, one of the key elements of this movie that I found to be brilliant is the parallels between the characters. For Mercedes and Captain Vidal, the colors of their scenes were blue, doing an excellent job at creating the melancholic atmosphere Twilight had attempted, yet failed, to execute in the first movie of its franchise. On the other hand, Ofelia’s scenes were more warm, yellow hues, contributing to her pure and happier view of the world that fits with the fantastical elements being shown. Furthermore, there was blending between the different realities where, while Ofelia was undergoing an intense sequence with the horrifying Pale Man who feasts upon children, Vidal was comfortably enjoying an extravagant dinner with his fellow soldiers, discussing war plans.

Another brilliant contrast was when Vidal had previously told the doctor to “Obey without thinking…”, while Ofelia, in her final showdown before her death, had refused to use her brother’s blood to gain entrance into the underworld even if it meant she died. Vidal acted from cruelty and group mentality, Ofelia out of kindness and independence. Moreover, Vidal wanted to preserve his honor and memory within his son, even willing to let his wife die at the cost of saving his child, whereas Ofelia fought to maintain the recollection and life of her kingdom. Both desired to leave a mark on the world and be remembered even after their passing, but, while Vidal’s methods were violent and cruel, stepping on anyone that got in his way, Ofelia’s were pure, with her being the only one in the movie refusing to kill or harm anyone. She was to be a ruler in the underworld that kept the peace, while Vidal was to rule at the cost of others’ suffering and death.

MERCEDES AND OFELIA

The relationship between Mercedes and Ofelia also remains of key importance within the fil. Ofelia’s mother, Carmen, was kind but passive, letting her husband do and say anything he desired. Mercedes and Ofelia, on the other hand, were brave, independent, and sought justice and escapism from the brutality Vidal displayed, leading to their natural gravitation towards one another. While Ofelia embarked on her fantastical adventure to restore her kingdom, Mercedes, simultaneously, fought to restore peace through defeating Vidal and aiding the Republican cause.

Towards the end of both their journeys, it was no surprise Mercedes and Ofelia would attempt to leave together, finding safety and comfort in one another. It was heartbreaking to witness the final contrasting scene where Mercedes, having won her battle, was left sobbing over Ofelia’s deceased body in the cold, twilight world, while Ofelia, smiling and bathed in warm, sunlit hues, was restored to her kingdom as Princess Moanna. The blending between reality and fantasy was no longer blurred, as the stark realization that these two would remain forever unreachable from one another was made heavily evident.

WAS THE FANTASY REAL? WHAT HAPPENED TO OFELIA?

As some final points to touch on, was the fantasy scenes real? At the end of the movie, that was the main question everyone was left with, as in the scene where Ofelia was talking to the Faun, it was revealed that Vidal couldn’t see it. The ending, to many, was left open-ended to the viewers’ interpretation, but to me, it rang loud and clear. In my eyes, I believe the fantasy to be real and not a figment of Ofelia’s imagination, with several clues having been left to make that apparent.

Starting with the first clue, Ofelia, with direction from the Faun, had placed a root with milk and blood under her sickly mother’s bed in efforts to restore her health. Her health from then on had seen a drastic improvement, surprising Vidal and the doctor. However, after Vidal found the root and Carmen had thrown it in the fire, destroying it, Carmen had immediately collapsed, dying while giving birth to her son and, thus, showcasing the effects of the root.

For a second clue, when Ofelia was locked in her room, she was able to draw a chalk door and enter into Vidal’s area. There was even an inserted clip of Mercedes noticing the drawn chalk door, blending parts of the fantasy into reality. In my opinion, I believe this was added to show that the magic really was real, and Ofelia really did draw a door that let her escape. Otherwise, how did she get out? A little girl locked in her room with several armed men standing outside guarding it? There’s no way she would have got past them.

Finally, when Ofelia was running away from Vidal with her baby brother, she was met with a dead end that would’ve led to her capture and death. However, a magical pathway had opened, allowing her to escape, while Vidal was left confused and had to turn back around, going the long way to the other side of the wall in order to reach her again. With all this compiled evidence, and even after reviewing interviews from Del Toro himself, it is safe to conclude that the underworld was real, Ofelia was the reincarnated princess, and the reason she was able to see things others couldn’t was because of her connection to the underworld. The ending sequence really was her leaving her mortal life, returning to her life as a princess of the underworld.

FINAL THOUGHTS - MUSIC, CRITICISMS, AND OVERALL STORYTELLING

Simply, this was an incredible film that deserves its awards, praise, and legendary status. “Pan’s Labyrinth” created a beautiful atmosphere that demonstrated the innocence and brutality in this world while simultaneously showcasing brilliant storytelling! The music was a perfect addition towards developing this fantastical atmosphere, the actors did an AMAZING job, and the horrifying characters (The Pale Man will forever stick with me) were creative and perfectly added to the story.

If there was any complaint I would make, it would be that I wish there was more showings of the underworld. I feel as though I spent much of the film believing we were going to witness her in the underworld for an extended amount of time, showcasing all the cool effects and experiences that come with that. I was very surprised when it primarily focused on her attempting to gain entrance into said world, as well as the heavy focus on war and Captain Vidal's story. It was very much a film that intended to focus on the reality and fantasy blend versus being largely fantasy focused.

However, the plot was so unique and different than standard fairy tales typically shown, and I still absolutely adored every second spent watching it. Despite my original thoughts, this is definitely not a kid's movie, and you better believe I was yelling at Vidal through the screen, rooting for Mercedes' escape, and crying at the end after Ofelia had relinquished her mortal life for her magical one. Loved it!