As a spaniard, I can say that Vidal is one of the villains that has caused a deeper impression in me. He's just... too real. I have seen people like that, personally and also in tv, running my country. They might not shoot people in the face anymore, but the mentality and the way of speaking has not changed. Fascism ruled Spain for 40 years, and it is not gone yet
The faun being the temptation is rather appropriate, considering satyrs represent temptation, albeit in different fashion. Similarly fitting is the Pale Man being a classical bogeyman, a child eater. The collection of shoes piled near his dining table is probably one of if not *the* least subtle images in the film.
Pan's Labyrinth is one of my top 5 favorite films. Every single scene and prop has a purpose, and it has infinite little hints from everything from table positions to color corrections to if pollen is visible in a scene . If possible I highly recommend that you listen to the director commentary, which explains all the choices Del Toro made and the insane hardships the production team went through. It is definitely worth it if you are interested in filmmaking.
Due to your analysis, I'm ashamed to admit my ignorance: The role of the Roman Church consorting with the fascists in Spain. My mother was Basque and once told me ( as a young girl ) of Franco's soldiers roaming through her village during the civil war there. The true monsters are the humans, the sadism of Vidal is what did me in for the movie, it was too brutal. Case in point: Vidal grinding the wine bottle into the old man's face. ETA the Basque Separatists fought against Franco, and yes, committed acts of terrorism, he would send soldiers and when found transport them into the beautiful Pyrenees mountains : The soldiers returned alone.
I loved this video. When talking to people about this film, it usually is a debate about whether or not the magical world is real or all made up in Ofelia's head, so it was nice that your analysis is about the actual story. Guillermo del Toro himself said that it was beside the point and he purposely made sure to throw in things to make the viewer unsure if the magical world is real or not. It plays into the way Captain Vidal lived his life. He was so caught up in the little things, he failed to see the big picture. The same can be said for those who choose not to see this film as a whole, but rather nitpick about whether or not Ofelia was imagining everything.
My mother was from northern Spain, she was Basque and was quite familiar with Franco's dictatorship. Picasso's famous painting was an Basque village that was used by the Nazi Luftwaffein basically for a training run for future missions ( sanctioned by Franco ). The true monster here was Colonel Vidal, his brutality was what set me off from the film when he shot Ophelia that was it for me. Gulliermo was correct in stating the 'look' of Fascism, Hugo Boss ( oh yes ) designed the uniforms of the high ranking Nazis. I'm enjoying your analysis, Peace.
This is a recurring theme in del Toro's films. Even if the outwardly obvious monsters are indeed a threat, they're usually not as dangerous or evil as the human monsters.
I was excited to see you do this movie (my favorite) but even more excited to see a much different take on it than I usually see in reviews and analysis.
What a beautiful movie, I was young and didn’t understand all the political context behind the movie at the time but the movie did resonate with me , I now know why
One thing: The Maquis resistance-fighters weren't primarily Republicans. Most of them were a united front of Anarchists, Communists and Socialists. A large number of them came from a third faction during the civil war; members and supporters of the autonomous Anarcho-Communist regions in Catalonia and Aragon who, although they fought against the Nationalists with the Republicans, didn't want to fall back under the control of the Second Spanish Republic. George Orwell notably joined them for a while (serving under the Workers' Party of Marxist Unification) before their regions were conquered by Franco.
What vidal wanted he son to know was the time of his death but when he try to say the hour he was cut and told that he's son wouldn't even know his name
Excellent analyses. However I'm quite surprising that you didn't mentioned the line between the imagination of a child and hard reality she has do deal with. Anyway excellent video!
You should take a look at modern times or the great dictator. I know you’ve seen them. But more people should and I think an essay on them (from you) would be unparalleled.
Yeah, I came here excited to see if there was some interpretation of the leftist struggle during the civil war that I missed, but sadly we only get to hear about the dumb Republicans and of course the fash.
I thought that Ophelia could be read as the embodiment of Spain, her princesshood the temptation towards fascism (a fantastical temptation for an unreal paradise)-and at the end, she's offered the chance to become a princess. She just has to sacrifice innocent life for an arbitrary reason. Ultimately, she rejects it, and is killed. Like the doomed revolutionaries, the embodiment of Spain is destroyed-but that moral line she draws is worth it.
As a spaniard, I can say that Vidal is one of the villains that has caused a deeper impression in me. He's just... too real. I have seen people like that, personally and also in tv, running my country. They might not shoot people in the face anymore, but the mentality and the way of speaking has not changed. Fascism ruled Spain for 40 years, and it is not gone yet
You guys deserve freedom.
The faun being the temptation is rather appropriate, considering satyrs represent temptation, albeit in different fashion. Similarly fitting is the Pale Man being a classical bogeyman, a child eater. The collection of shoes piled near his dining table is probably one of if not *the* least subtle images in the film.
similar collections accumulated in a Nazi concentration camps
Pan's Labyrinth is one of my top 5 favorite films. Every single scene and prop has a purpose, and it has infinite little hints from everything from table positions to color corrections to if pollen is visible in a scene . If possible I highly recommend that you listen to the director commentary, which explains all the choices Del Toro made and the insane hardships the production team went through. It is definitely worth it if you are interested in filmmaking.
One of the most beautiful movies i have ever seen. The lullaby especially is lovely
Due to your analysis, I'm ashamed to admit my ignorance: The role of the Roman Church consorting with the fascists in Spain. My mother was Basque and once told me ( as a young girl ) of Franco's soldiers roaming through her village during the civil war there.
The true monsters are the humans, the sadism of Vidal is what did me in for the movie, it was too brutal.
Case in point: Vidal grinding the wine bottle into the old man's face.
ETA the Basque Separatists fought against Franco, and yes, committed acts of terrorism, he would send soldiers and when found transport them into the beautiful Pyrenees mountains :
The soldiers returned alone.
I loved this video. When talking to people about this film, it usually is a debate about whether or not the magical world is real or all made up in Ofelia's head, so it was nice that your analysis is about the actual story. Guillermo del Toro himself said that it was beside the point and he purposely made sure to throw in things to make the viewer unsure if the magical world is real or not. It plays into the way Captain Vidal lived his life. He was so caught up in the little things, he failed to see the big picture. The same can be said for those who choose not to see this film as a whole, but rather nitpick about whether or not Ofelia was imagining everything.
My mother was from northern Spain, she was Basque and was quite familiar with Franco's dictatorship. Picasso's famous painting was an Basque village that was used by the Nazi Luftwaffein basically for a training run for future missions ( sanctioned by Franco ).
The true monster here was Colonel Vidal, his brutality was what set me off from the film when he shot Ophelia that was it for me. Gulliermo was correct in stating the 'look' of Fascism, Hugo Boss ( oh yes ) designed the uniforms of the high ranking Nazis.
I'm enjoying your analysis, Peace.
Thank you for doing Pan's Labyrinth! It's one of my favourite films.
Another fantastic analysis, thanks! Your relentless output of quality material has been and still is such an inspiration to me :)
"The pale man […] is the Catholic Church" Instant like.
I remember walking out of the theater thinking that the fascist people were far worse than the monsters in this movie.
Lord RaptOR I
This is a recurring theme in del Toro's films. Even if the outwardly obvious monsters are indeed a threat, they're usually not as dangerous or evil as the human monsters.
+Lord RaptOR You can at least forgive monsters as its in their nature whereas Fascists have none.
I could listen to this movie's music forever.
I was excited to see you do this movie (my favorite) but even more excited to see a much different take on it than I usually see in reviews and analysis.
This is one of my top 5 favorite films of all time, Im so glad you analyzed this beautiful deep film!
Pan :You are a princess
Ophelia:I am a heroine 💗💗💗💗
Mate in 2021 this reads even scarier
Goddamnit. Stop making awesomely relevant movie reviews. My brain can't take it,
What a beautiful movie, I was young and didn’t understand all the political context behind the movie at the time but the movie did resonate with me , I now know why
This hits so close to home today living in Brasil
It's also worth to mention Vidal is represented by the Pale Man as well. Great video
One thing: The Maquis resistance-fighters weren't primarily Republicans. Most of them were a united front of Anarchists, Communists and Socialists. A large number of them came from a third faction during the civil war; members and supporters of the autonomous Anarcho-Communist regions in Catalonia and Aragon who, although they fought against the Nationalists with the Republicans, didn't want to fall back under the control of the Second Spanish Republic. George Orwell notably joined them for a while (serving under the Workers' Party of Marxist Unification) before their regions were conquered by Franco.
Fascists vs Anarcho-Communists. It's like the double zero in roulette.
Yeah, like one side is advocating genocide and the other side is stopping it! There's no winning!
What vidal wanted he son to know was the time of his death but when he try to say the hour he was cut and told that he's son wouldn't even know his name
Well done. It's been a while since I last watched this film. Time for another viewing.
You deserve 100 million likes/subscriptions.
This movie was brilliant.
Great analysis! This is one of my favorite movies of all time, if not my all time favorite.
When I'm down I binge watch your analysis, thank you. Never stop making videos!
Your review made an awesome movie even better!
Love this movie
Great review.
So utterly relevant in 2020!!! Dark times!
Excellent analyses. However I'm quite surprising that you didn't mentioned the line between the imagination of a child and hard reality she has do deal with. Anyway excellent video!
You should take a look at modern times or the great dictator. I know you’ve seen them. But more people should and I think an essay on them (from you) would be unparalleled.
"The average man does not want to be free. He simply wants to be safe."
Great Analysis. And Guillermo del Toro wan today the Venice Festival's Golden Lion for his new movie that I hope is as great as Pan's Labyrinth
Just subscribed, amazing content!! keep up the good work man. BTW have you ever watched Inside Llewyn Davis? I'd love to see your thoughts on it
Oh I never realized the pail man was representing the catholic church I thought it represented captain vidal
Fan-freaking-tastic!
What about the part where he is shaving and slits his (reflection's) throat? No one ever mentions that.
Do you think del Torro said anything about (RIP) the Spanish Anarchists in the film? I bet he was a fan.
Yeah, I came here excited to see if there was some interpretation of the leftist struggle during the civil war that I missed, but sadly we only get to hear about the dumb Republicans and of course the fash.
I wonder if you plan on doing any other films set in the Spanish Civil War?
I thought that Ophelia could be read as the embodiment of Spain, her princesshood the temptation towards fascism (a fantastical temptation for an unreal paradise)-and at the end, she's offered the chance to become a princess. She just has to sacrifice innocent life for an arbitrary reason. Ultimately, she rejects it, and is killed.
Like the doomed revolutionaries, the embodiment of Spain is destroyed-but that moral line she draws is worth it.
wow!
Please do the Tarkovskij Films
merci
Did the Only God Forgives video get taken down, what happened to it? :'(
America is heading this way with this current administration.
Okay, now explain why nobody in this movie reacts to being fatally shot.
Because if a shot is lethal , you won' t have time to react . Pain takes more time to reach your brain and to be noticed , than your own death .
My last comment only appears when I'm logged in. Why is this?
No spam, no links, no naughty words. I'm confabulated.
And the comment you just replied to wasn't showing up when I logged out until you replied to it
I'm...unfamiliar with this process. I'd never post filth under your video, and am unsure what would cause my comments to fall under review.
The operative word being *initially*. At least YOU'VE been helpful...
Actually, that was exactly what i wanted to know. Anyway, keep up the good work with the videos and all!
"The fascists of the future will take the title of anti-fascists"
The "Red pilled".
I liked all of the grounded civil war stuff but felt that the fantasy stuff dragged the story down.
Color me shocked that you're uncritically accepting an anti-Catholic narrative from the filmmaker.
Uncritically? These are well known facts