Dear Imaginers: What stayed with you from this film? When you write, please notice each other's responses and, when inspired, respond to them. As for me, I left class disturbed and moved. RN
After watching Pan's Labyrinth, what stayed with me most was the thought of what happened next. According to the narrator of the fairy tale about Princess Moanna, Ofelia returns to her rightful kingdom and is loved by her people. But what about poor Mercedes? Because she no longer believes in fairy tales, she does not believe that Ofelia had a happy ending and her guilt must be terrible. This made me further wonder: what does it mean for those left behind? For Mercedes, who loved Ofelia like a daughter, and Ofelia's brother, who is orphaned? The ending becomes bittersweet when we consider those in the "real world." I think this is what makes the film so poignant and breathtaking.
I was amazed how the director managed to show that a powerless child, like Ofelia, is more courageous than any adult. She has a unique courage to imagine and a belief in the ultimate goodness that will inevitably conquer all evil. It is one of the most disturbing and violent movies I've seen, but, at the same time, it is incredibly uplifting. Also, after watching the film, the lullaby's melody stayed in my head for the rest of the day.
I was immensely moved by the concept of acceptance and obeying in the film. There were things that the monster (the fascist soldier) wanted Ofelia to obey, and there were things that the Faun told Ofelia to obey. It's hard to tell what is exactly right and wrong when the Faun would tell tasks for Ofelia to do. I also felt that Ofelia is a symbol for honesty, truth, goodwill, honor, and faith.
I don't watch many films that aren't in English, and I wasn't sure about this one at first. As I watched, though, I stopped caring that it was in a different language and by the end I barely noticed. Interestingly, I don't think the film would have had the same effect in English. There is something about the Spanish language that lends it a more mystical tone. I'm not sure if this was just me or not. Either way, I'm going to try and see more foreign films in the future.
Also, I thought all of the death scenes in the film were really well done. The doctor's was touching and Ofelia's, of course, was heartbreaking. Even the captain's death was fitting and just perfect for the character.
As Vera mentioned, the soundtrack is beautiful and I listen to it often. It works well both in the context of the film and as a standalone composition.
I also dont watch many films that arent in english, but this one captivated me. What stayed with me is in reality Ofelia's death was actually a tradegy. I had hope for her to go to her kingdom and make her brother a prince, but when I discover that the fantasy world was all in her head, it mad me sad. If she wasnt into fairy tales then she wouldnt have taken her brother into the Labyrinth and when Mercedes came to rescue her, she would have been rescued.
Like CThomas writes, Ofeila's fantasy world was entirely constructed in her imagination. As we discussed in class, despite the fact that Ofeila created this fantasy world as an escape from her real world, because the real world is the only thing Ofeila truly "knows" characteristics from her real world, such as the almost Fascist attitude of the Faun at times, appeared. Yet, I am unsure if the fact that the fantasy world was a fantasy world is in fact a tragedy. It is true that she may have been rescued if the Faun had not told her to take her brother, and then she would not have been killed. But I think that the fantasy world was what willed Ofeila to live. Living in the Captain's new home with her sick mother, her fantasy world was the only place where she was free and allowed to be a child (ie: did not have to care for her mother or fear the Captain).
What stayed with me most was how strong and defiant Ofelia was. Though just a child, she was able to do things many adults would not be able to do. She was able to defy the Captain, a person she hated, but also the Faun, which was someone she trusted and maybe loved. This demonstrates her boldness and courage. She is unafraid of consequences and will do what she must in order to achieve she goals.
I agree with Brigida, as I too would like to know what happens to Mercedes and Ofelia's brother. Though they escaped alive at the end of the film, the war continues to be fought and so it is impossible to predict if they survive or not.
As for the entire magical world being a mere construction of Ofelia's imagination, I do not entirely believe that, otherwise how did she do the things she did? If it was all her imagination, where did she get the Mandrake root and how did she escape her locked room? These questions are not answered, but are left open to interpretation.
I agree with Stephen-- I think the director purposely left it up to the viewer to decide whether Ofelia imagined it all. What makes the end of the film so haunting is that it changes depending on what you believe.
Some people say that the Faun is like the Captain when he is commanding Ofelia what to do and how he expects Ofelia to shed the blood of the innocent. However I think that the Faun parallels the Captain in a different way. Ofelia's mother looks to the Captain for protection while Ofelia looks to the Faun. The Captain is a real, tangible being who turns out to be a false protector, while the Faun is an intangible being from the other world, but he turns out to be truly protecting Ofelia. Even though he seems to be bossing Ofelia around, at the end we see that he was just testing her and pushing her on the path of being able to return to her home.
Another interesting observation is that when Mercedes is captured, the Captain dismisses his soldier, saying Mercedes is only a woman. However she turns things around on him Mercedes cuts the Captain and is mocking him by cutting half of his face. The Captain ends up running out of there almost killed, looking like the clown that he really is.
To address Stephen and Miriam's point regarding the fantasy world being part of Ofeila's imagination: I think the escape from her room may have been a detailed hallucination. She may have gotten the mandrake root from the garden and then forgotten about it: we and Ofeila are the only ones who believe in the mandrake's magical properties. To the other characters it may just be a root. But, I do agree that the director purposely left this ambiguous, which is perhaps the beauty of the film.
I found the end of this film to be almost depressing. Although Ofelia ended being reunited with her "father". It is still sad that she dies in real life. Like Brigida said, what about those left behind to mourn over Ofelia? ... It was disappointing to see that this fantasy world was all in Ofelia's head. But I still enjoyed that--because it showed the reality to it.
In responding to jamshonti _ P, I found the ending very fitting for a film like this. I don't think any one actually expected Ofelia to survive her circumstances, so for the film to end the way it did, it was a perfect catharsis. IF the film ended on a high-note with the rebels rescuing her and killing the captain, then it would not have the same effect as the original, somber ending
Regarding Mercedes and Ofelia's baby brother; I can't see their lives turning out at all well if Mercedes continues supporting the rebels. This is the problem with knowing about history, I can't forget what I know about Spain during this time period.I think I could believe Ofelia's magical world were real and not only her imagination if I didn't know as much. This is a time when I think it would be better to know less about a time period or society, then there could still be some hope.
I agree with stephen.. I thourougly enjoyed the way in which Ofelia played this extremly brave character. I find it miraculous that she was able to overcome all the obstacles given to her which such fluidity. As a child, an audience might expect her to be more cautious espcially when the role of the adult is so prevalent in the film but she surpasses all of that to take care of her own disires.
What stuck with me the most is Ofelia's character because of her bravery. Her eagerness to explore and fulfill her curiosity is so amazing. When she first met the faun, she wasn't bothered at all by his creepy appearance. This especially supports the fantasy aspect of this movie because she embraces the unrealistic things around her. That fact that Ofelia takes on every task without hesitation and be able to complete them successfully without the help of another child or adult is also incredible. In the end, she dies (or, however you want to believe it, leaves the mortal world) with dignity, which completes her character as a true heroine.
I left the movie mesmerized by the use of images, color, sights and sounds. What I loved about the whole piece was that it had no fat, nothing was extra or superfluous—everything had a use, a purpose, and knit perfectly into the contact of the story. I was blown away by the use of lighting and color. The deeper meanings of the movie inspired me to try to knit such meaning into my own work, and I adore the images of the forest, the stone sculptures in the labyrinth, and the fawn.
After watching Pan's Labyrinth, what stayed with me most was the thought of what happened next. According to the narrator of the fairy tale about Princess Moanna, Ofelia returns to her rightful kingdom and is loved by her people. But what about poor Mercedes? Because she no longer believes in fairy tales, she does not believe that Ofelia had a happy ending and her guilt must be terrible. This made me further wonder: what does it mean for those left behind? For Mercedes, who loved Ofelia like a daughter, and Ofelia's brother, who is orphaned? The ending becomes bittersweet when we consider those in the "real world." I think this is what makes the film so poignant and breathtaking.
ReplyDeleteI was amazed how the director managed to show that a powerless child, like Ofelia, is more courageous than any adult. She has a unique courage to imagine and a belief in the ultimate goodness that will inevitably conquer all evil.
ReplyDeleteIt is one of the most disturbing and violent movies I've seen, but, at the same time, it is incredibly uplifting. Also, after watching the film, the lullaby's melody stayed in my head for the rest of the day.
I was immensely moved by the concept of acceptance and obeying in the film. There were things that the monster (the fascist soldier) wanted Ofelia to obey, and there were things that the Faun told Ofelia to obey. It's hard to tell what is exactly right and wrong when the Faun would tell tasks for Ofelia to do. I also felt that Ofelia is a symbol for honesty, truth, goodwill, honor, and faith.
ReplyDeleteI don't watch many films that aren't in English, and I wasn't sure about this one at first. As I watched, though, I stopped caring that it was in a different language and by the end I barely noticed. Interestingly, I don't think the film would have had the same effect in English. There is something about the Spanish language that lends it a more mystical tone. I'm not sure if this was just me or not. Either way, I'm going to try and see more foreign films in the future.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I thought all of the death scenes in the film were really well done. The doctor's was touching and Ofelia's, of course, was heartbreaking. Even the captain's death was fitting and just perfect for the character.
As Vera mentioned, the soundtrack is beautiful and I listen to it often. It works well both in the context of the film and as a standalone composition.
I also dont watch many films that arent in english, but this one captivated me. What stayed with me is in reality Ofelia's death was actually a tradegy. I had hope for her to go to her kingdom and make her brother a prince, but when I discover that the fantasy world was all in her head, it mad me sad. If she wasnt into fairy tales then she wouldnt have taken her brother into the Labyrinth and when Mercedes came to rescue her, she would have been rescued.
ReplyDeleteLike CThomas writes, Ofeila's fantasy world was entirely constructed in her imagination. As we discussed in class, despite the fact that Ofeila created this fantasy world as an escape from her real world, because the real world is the only thing Ofeila truly "knows" characteristics from her real world, such as the almost Fascist attitude of the Faun at times, appeared. Yet, I am unsure if the fact that the fantasy world was a fantasy world is in fact a tragedy. It is true that she may have been rescued if the Faun had not told her to take her brother, and then she would not have been killed. But I think that the fantasy world was what willed Ofeila to live. Living in the Captain's new home with her sick mother, her fantasy world was the only place where she was free and allowed to be a child (ie: did not have to care for her mother or fear the Captain).
ReplyDeleteWhat stayed with me most was how strong and defiant Ofelia was. Though just a child, she was able to do things many adults would not be able to do. She was able to defy the Captain, a person she hated, but also the Faun, which was someone she trusted and maybe loved. This demonstrates her boldness and courage. She is unafraid of consequences and will do what she must in order to achieve she goals.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Brigida, as I too would like to know what happens to Mercedes and Ofelia's brother. Though they escaped alive at the end of the film, the war continues to be fought and so it is impossible to predict if they survive or not.
As for the entire magical world being a mere construction of Ofelia's imagination, I do not entirely believe that, otherwise how did she do the things she did? If it was all her imagination, where did she get the Mandrake root and how did she escape her locked room? These questions are not answered, but are left open to interpretation.
I agree with Stephen-- I think the director purposely left it up to the viewer to decide whether Ofelia imagined it all. What makes the end of the film so haunting is that it changes depending on what you believe.
ReplyDeleteSome people say that the Faun is like the Captain when he is commanding Ofelia what to do and how he expects Ofelia to shed the blood of the innocent. However I think that the Faun parallels the Captain in a different way. Ofelia's mother looks to the Captain for protection while Ofelia looks to the Faun. The Captain is a real, tangible being who turns out to be a false protector, while the Faun is an intangible being from the other world, but he turns out to be truly protecting Ofelia. Even though he seems to be bossing Ofelia around, at the end we see that he was just testing her and pushing her on the path of being able to return to her home.
ReplyDeleteAnother interesting observation is that when Mercedes is captured, the Captain dismisses his soldier, saying Mercedes is only a woman. However she turns things around on him Mercedes cuts the Captain and is mocking him by cutting half of his face. The Captain ends up running out of there almost killed, looking like the clown that he really is.
To address Stephen and Miriam's point regarding the fantasy world being part of Ofeila's imagination: I think the escape from her room may have been a detailed hallucination. She may have gotten the mandrake root from the garden and then forgotten about it: we and Ofeila are the only ones who believe in the mandrake's magical properties. To the other characters it may just be a root. But, I do agree that the director purposely left this ambiguous, which is perhaps the beauty of the film.
ReplyDeleteI found the end of this film to be almost depressing. Although Ofelia ended being reunited with her "father". It is still sad that she dies in real life. Like Brigida said, what about those left behind to mourn over Ofelia? ... It was disappointing to see that this fantasy world was all in Ofelia's head. But I still enjoyed that--because it showed the reality to it.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIn responding to jamshonti _ P, I found the ending very fitting for a film like this. I don't think any one actually expected Ofelia to survive her circumstances, so for the film to end the way it did, it was a perfect catharsis. IF the film ended on a high-note with the rebels rescuing her and killing the captain, then it would not have the same effect as the original, somber ending
ReplyDeleteRegarding Mercedes and Ofelia's baby brother; I can't see their lives turning out at all well if Mercedes continues supporting the rebels. This is the problem with knowing about history, I can't forget what I know about Spain during this time period.I think I could believe Ofelia's magical world were real and not only her imagination if I didn't know as much. This is a time when I think it would be better to know less about a time period or society, then there could still be some hope.
ReplyDeleteI agree with stephen.. I thourougly enjoyed the way in which Ofelia played this extremly brave character. I find it miraculous that she was able to overcome all the obstacles given to her which such fluidity. As a child, an audience might expect her to be more cautious espcially when the role of the adult is so prevalent in the film but she surpasses all of that to take care of her own disires.
ReplyDeleteWhat stuck with me the most is Ofelia's character because of her bravery. Her eagerness to explore and fulfill her curiosity is so amazing. When she first met the faun, she wasn't bothered at all by his creepy appearance. This especially supports the fantasy aspect of this movie because she embraces the unrealistic things around her. That fact that Ofelia takes on every task without hesitation and be able to complete them successfully without the help of another child or adult is also incredible. In the end, she dies (or, however you want to believe it, leaves the mortal world) with dignity, which completes her character as a true heroine.
ReplyDeleteI left the movie mesmerized by the use of images, color, sights and sounds. What I loved about the whole piece was that it had no fat, nothing was extra or superfluous—everything had a use, a purpose, and knit perfectly into the contact of the story. I was blown away by the use of lighting and color. The deeper meanings of the movie inspired me to try to knit such meaning into my own work, and I adore the images of the forest, the stone sculptures in the labyrinth, and the fawn.
ReplyDelete