Pans Labyrinth film and themes - Essay Example

Throughout the film, Ofelia interacts with the various magical, strange creatures that became critical to the events of her life; the creatures lead Ofelia through different trials at the old labyrinth grounds. Through this essay, the author will present a critical review of the film, with the aim of showing that obedience is a recurrent theme, and that it plays a major role in the setting of the scenes and the characters of the film. The theme of obedience will be used to highlight the film’s use of imagery to expose the negative side of fascism (Picart and Browning 276).

To support the repetition of the theme of obedience, the author will provide examples to show the cases where the characters show their obedience or disobedience. The film employs the theme of obedience to exemplify and criticize two sides of the repression of fascism. The two repressive sides of fascism that the film communicates include the coercion of free will and patriarchy. Through this essay, the writer presents different examples of the characters that demonstrate the theme of obedience, which helped to expose the detestable nature of fascism and also justifies why it was necessary to resist it (Picart and Browning 275).

Through the lives and the experiences of the characters, the film showcases the differences between conceding to fascism (Francoist rule) and also the importance and the value of resisting the domination of adverse authorities. The two relationships that demonstrate the theme of obedience, which is used in a figurative way to show the life led by the people subjected to the ill of fascism include the relationship between Mercedes and Captain Vidal and also the relationship between Ofelia and the Captain.

The other side of the coin, which is that of rejecting the domination of fascism, is made evident through the relationship between Ofelia and Captain Vidal; Ofelia rejects to compromise her standards and integrity. Ofelia is