Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Pan's Labyrinth
Well, the Signs discussion seems to have pretty much wrapped up, but I don't want to start a new discussion before the end of the month in case there are any late-in-the-month stragglers. So as sort of a side discussion we are going to watch and discuss Pan's Labyrinth which is a very beautiful, very harsh movie. If you'd like to participate in this discussion please jump on in.
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I watched this movie for the first time this week. It was spread out over two evenings because of time restrictions and I actually think that was the best way for me to watch it because the yuckiness was getting pretty intense as the story unfolded.
The director did an excellent job of portraying just how miserable Ofelia's life was. The lighting was cold and subdued, but I didn't notice it too much until the end when Ofelia returns to her kingdom. The light from the throne room is so golden and warm and when we go back and see her lying in the mud dying, then the comparison is complete and I almost started crying with joy that she was rescued from that. Of course, thoughts of Heaven were in my mind and that made it all the more glorious.
I've got more thoughts about Pan's Labyrinth, but I'll post them another time.
By the way, who/what is Pan?
I absolutely love this movie. It is one of the few movies that I own.
I read that when the movie was first shown at the Sundance Film Festival that is received a 10 minute standing ovation when it was over. I felt like applauding myself when it ended, it is such a beautiful movie that seems to, unintentionally, compare the ugliness of this world and the suffering we go through, to the wonders of Heaven. When at the end of our race we too will be greeted by a multitude of saints applauding our arrival.
The whole movie is so wondrous and it brings tears to my eyes every time I Watch it.
On Friday I was at my church's Bible study and we were going over the part in Acts about Stephen's death. I couldn't help but think about this movie. Stephen was persecuted and violently stoned to death, but he always trusted his God and the reward that was waiting for him. Before Stephen died, he saw Jesus in heaven, standing to receive him.
In Pan's Labyrinth Ofelia lived in a violent world, yet she lived purely. While the movie doesn't claim to be Christian I think it does an outstanding job of picturing for us what awaits us at the end of our violent life here.
I know I'm basically recapping what Fritz just said. But even other than the glorious thought of the other saints welcoming us, the thought of our Father smiling as we finally see His face was portrayed well in the movie.
If one purpose of movies is to point us to Jesus and to show us something more about Him, then I think Pan's Labyrinth was a great success.
That said, I don't think I'm eager to watch it again anytime too soon. The ugliness was so ugly that I'd be afraid of becoming numb to it. If we Christians become desensitized to ugliness then we'd become useless to fight it. The violence in Pan's Labyrinth was appropriate for it's purpose, but we need to be careful to not excuse all violence in movies.
I forgot to mention that I loved the little smile on Ofelia's face as she died. In Acts it says that Stephen "fell asleep." Yes, death is evil, but for a child of God it is a sweet release.
I really need to go back and watch the movie again before I say anything truly deep. But the one thing that stayed with me from the last time I watched the movie is the bravery of some of the characters, especially a couple fairly insignificant characters. When the man in the cave has to lose his leg and he just asks for a moment to look at it before they cut it off I was moved by his quiet bravery. I thought that showed more nobility than when the Captain sewed his own face up. Sure, he's doing amateur surgery on himself, but that just means he's tough. The quiet acceptance and soft sadness from the man in the cave showed more nobility and true strength.
There was also the nameless guerrilla who got shot in the neck in the woods. The Captain is standing over him and is going to kill him, but the guerrilla puts his hand over the pistol. The Captain moves it and he does it again. It is the end of this man's life and he is still fighting. Again, I compared this strength to the Captain's strength and he is revealed as merely a thug.
Mercedes's story is full of great moments, but I'm not even going to try to get specific because I know I've forgotten most of the details. But just her position in the Captain's house was terrifying to me. The image of Mercedes that stands out in my mind is her surrounded by horsemen with a knife at her own throat. I wanted her to be rescued at that moment so much that I think I was shaking.
I don't know much, if anything, about Spanish history to know who was actually right in the situation, but I knew that the guerrilla's had all the nobility on their side and the Captain had all the cruelty. So I was rooting for the men in the woods because of their bravery and because they were fighting against him.
"I don't know much, if anything, about Spanish history to know who was actually right in the situation,..."
That's a good point, Gaby. I didn't consider that. It's funny how we watch movies without stopping to question the "facts" the director has given us.
What did you all think about the faun? Joshua and I kept going back and forth between thinking he was a good guy or bad guy. He ends up being a good guy, but I thought he felt cold. It seemed strange when Ofelia hugged him at one point in the movie because he seemed unapproachable. And what was with Mercedes' line, "My mother always told me to be wary of fauns"? (or words to that end) I enjoyed how the faun looked and moved. And I loved how faeries were portrayed- kinda bug-like and very natural- no frills or magical mice following them around. ;o)
And I don't know if I've ever seen anything creepier than that monster with his eyes in his hands. Yikes! I wonder if he was based off a mythical creature or something.
Hello all. I am writing this because of a certain someone chided me for my silence. So, some thoughts on both ‘Signs’ and ‘Pan’s Labyrinth’.
'Signs'
I like this movie. I think it works as a good story. But as I was thinking about it recently it occurred to me that M. Knight etc. is not a Christian. So, I shouldn’t thoughtlessly fill this with Christian content. The movie is about a crisis of faith. Mel Gibson’s character has rejected the notion of ‘someone’ – His word. I don’t think ‘God’ is ever mentioned. – who takes care of people. Belief in that notion is restored through the events portrayed. Because these events cannot be coincidences there must be ‘someone’ who takes care of us. That is the basis of this restored faith. That’s a far cry from a Christian trusting Jesus. What do you think our restored reverend preaches about on Sundays?
'Pan’s Labyrinth'
It’s been a while since I’ve seen it, but this movie just didn’t work for me. Maybe I’m just too old. For it to work you had to embrace the little girl. I didn’t. Some of the movie was a little predictable. You knew that the girl was going to eat from the table and thus arouse the beast. And why did the cook/maid/whatever she was, just poke at the captain with her knife as if to see if he were done? Kill him!! And then there’s Pan. Was he supposed to be a good guy? If the movie was about good versus evil where does he fit? He seemed brusque and gruff.
Am I forgiven, Adiel?
Wet blanket comes to mind for some reason...or maybe stick in the mud?
:)
Now, now, Fritz, it's attitudes like that that kept Dad silent in the first place. We need to be more welcoming of comments from the highly acclaimed stick-in-the-mud. ;o)
Dad,
I can see why you didn't like Pan's Labyrinth. It is a fairy tale and by it's very nature I think it should be somewhat predictable. Ofelia was a traditional fairy tale heroine.
And I agreed about the faun (was he Pan?) I thought his character was a bit odd, but maybe that was part of Ofelia's test.
"And why did the cook/maid/whatever she was, just poke at the captain with her knife as if to see if he were done? Kill him!!"
I never thought you'd be capable of such thoughts! ;o) Seriously, I think everyone thought that, too.
I don't think it is a perfect movie, but if you're willing to give a little, then I think it works well and tells a good story. And, Dad, maybe you are just too old.
Regarding Signs, do you think it's appropriate to imbue our own beliefs into someone else's art as long as we realize that it is our own beliefs and not credit the artist with them?
For example, a photographer can take a picture of the ocean to portray Mother Nature's power and might, but when I look at the same picture I praise God for His creation. The photographer would be upset if he knew I translated it that way, of course. Then there's the question of whether or not that is good art or if it's only our translatiion that is good.
Any thoughts anyone?
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