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Anti-fascist film makes contribution

"Pan's Labyrinth"
Directed by Guillermo del Toro
2007

"Pan's Labyrinth" is first and foremost an anti-fascist film, but by alternating between reality and a childhood fantasy del Toro weaves two stories together into a strong message of self-sacrifice. Set in rural Spain in 1944 (and filmed in Spanish), the film chronicles the anti-fascist fighters' battle against the local militia, and the fantasy life of a young girl forced to live with the local fascist leader, Vidal, by her mother's recent marriage to the man.

Vidal, a captain in Franco's army, is in charge of rooting out the rebel opposition. Spain has been taken over by military dictators who deny the people even basic freedoms. The brutality of the fascists is portrayed graphically in the movie, something that a few critics dislike. But this brutality is the reality of war and fascism. This film is not a children's fantasy, in spite of the fantasy aspect.

In the reality portion of the movie, the anti-fascist fighters are committed to self-sacrifice for the struggle, but they are facing difficult conditions with insufficient weapons, food and medicine. The fascists regulate access to all consumer goods for the locals, in an attempt to force the rebels out of hiding. But within the military commander's house there are two rebel supporters who manage to provide valuable medical care, supplies, and information to keep the struggle alive. One of these people, a woman housekeeper for the military leader, struggles with what she sees as her own cowardice for working for the fascists while providing support to the rebels. But her actions make clear that she is taking some of the biggest risks to aid the struggle. There is an important lesson here about people making use of what skills and power they can obtain. Not everyone should be in the woods with a gun; some people have to fight behind enemy lines.

While providing a good picture of the local battle, the movie fails to link up the local struggle with the larger anti-fascist struggle in Spain and in the world at that time. At one point the rebels are discussing their chances of success and one says that if they can not win they must at least make the military leader's life difficult. This is a correct approach locally in the context of the larger battle going on at the time, but sounds defeatist without context. At times it is appropriate to retreat and regroup, and if these fighters were at the center of the anti-fascist struggle they would have a responsibility to consider their position carefully. Instead the glib approach to their chances of success comes across as heroic but possibly pointless.

The fantasy story, focused on the young girl Ofelia, mirrors the lessons of reality at the level of the individual. In her fantasy Ofelia creates reasons to stand against her brutal step father. Although the end of the fantasy story has strong religious overtones suggesting ascension to a higher kingdom after death, Ofelia's ultimate test requires self-sacrifice and refusal to blindly follow authority.

Unfortunately, the individualism in the fantasy plot took something away from the message of the movie. At one point Ofelia's choice is posed as the decision between killing an innocent person or sacrificing oneself. But the anti-fascist struggle was not about individuals. It was about ending a system where a small group of people have the power to oppress and exploit the majority. In the course of this battle some hard choices have to be made and some innocent people will die. The battle strategically can't be about individuals, it has to be focused on the good of the many which is tied up in the defeat of fascism.

Overall "Pan's Labyrinth" is a well made film with a strong anti-fascist political message. In the context of all the crap in Hollywood these days, this is a pleasant exception playing in mainstream theaters.