To what extent is Pan's Labyrinth a political film? -not exam question





To include:
Social, cultural, political contexts (either current or historical)
social factors surrounding a film's production such as debates about ethnicity or gender
cultural factors surrounding a film's production such as a significant film or artistic movement

political factors surrounding a film's production such as the imposition of restrictions on freedom of expression or a major movement for political change.


My answer:


The film demonstrates the director's negative views towards fascism throughout. The evil and depraved character of Vidal, who is the embodiment of the fascist regime, is a hugely dislikeable character which influences the audience to dislike his actions and fascism. Vidal is portrayed as evil in the Rabbit



 Hunters scene when he murders the innocent. This evokes the audience's negativity and hatred towards fascism.





The actions that Francisco Franco made when leading the country, are clearly depicted to influence the events in the film. Franco's anti communist and nationalist opinions and banning of all religions other than Catholicism are depicted in the film through the fascist characters' intolerance for anyone with different opinions to themselves. This is shown when the character of Vidal talks of wanting "a new clean Spain", portraying a fascist's evil intolerance for ethnic and religious diversity, and making a solid political point





The film is set in a time of political complexity and interest, automatically establishing it a prominent feature of the film. The film takes place at the time of Nazism; the Nazis supported Francisco Franco, an underlying addition of complexity and conflict. The prospect of the war also is depicted to have spurred aggression and paranoia in the fascists towards the innocent. This is shown by the director in the Rabbit Hunters scene when the fascists are unnecessarily brutal and violent towards the innocent, as they were seemingly paranoid that the rabbit hunters were traitors.

















Notes:
"a new clean spain" clean represent ethnic cleansing/wiping outlaw of the communist, libertarian movements
"to obey"- just like that-for obedience's sake... without questioning... thats something only people like you do
Del toro's negative views of fascism are expressed through the film
-one interpretation Ofelia's fairytales are
her escape from he horror of the world


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