El Laberinto del Fauno
Whenever there is a film that I disliked, knowing very well that everybody and their mother loves it, I feel like I am in a really tough position. Today, I wrote an e-mail to a friend who I accused of being unable to confront his disagreement with me, and I know very well that this is generally something very, very hard. I love it when people like the same things I do, and there is a certain disappointment when people don’t like certain movies as much as I do (take Shii and JSA, or Shii and Hidamari Sketch, or Shii and… okay, that was actually all). I don’t think I mind it, but I would still find it sad. In consequence to that, I feel like I can rave away comfortably when I like a movie, but should back up my disliking for something with some sound arguments.
In this case, I guess the film was just something completely different from what I expected. I mean, oh my God. The whole film was just dark, gory and downright sad. There is no single character who was truly likable (except for the faun who, in my opinion, had some lovely antics), and the fact that it’s supposed to be a parabel cannot hide away how the film is full of clichés: The evil fascist and his maniac behavior, the mother who marries for money and is weak in almost every aspect and the little girl who escapes into her dream world. Sadly, at the end of the day, the main character doesn’t actually do very much. This is fairly normal for a little child, and very unusual for a fantasy film. (Actually, this is somewhat refreshing, but still depressing.)
On top of all that, the actions of the characters just make you cringe. The little girl mostly makes sense, though I believe that I would certainly not have given into my hunger just by looking at that creepy eyeless guy. But as a war movie, the film just had too many disturbing details: Why would they kill the doctor without questioning him nor considering the possibility that they will need him to cure the captain’s wife? Why didn’t Mercedes run away after it was obvious they will see the opened storeroom door? That is like outright telling them that she collaborated with the enemy, what in the world. The worst part was where she was chased by horses and not even been shot at. There is no obvious reason as to why they would rather shoot the doctor than kill her; besides making food she didn’t look like she was all that useful after all.
The main reason why the film ended on such a dark note is the fact that the rebels refused to tell the captain’s son about his father. This is what you do during a war, but with that, they just showed how they were no better than the fascists after all. And there is another one: I think the film can be interpreted such that Ofelia’s fantasy world is all just her imagination. Nobody else in the film ever gets into contact with the fantastic world, and everything in the real world could potentially have happened without her doing. In that case, it would mean that she died completely needlessly. Very sad. I think I don’t like needlessly sad movies anymore.
Wonderful. :3 I also expected something completely different: a detailed, beautiful, surreal fantasy world and kind of a different approach to fascism (which it certainly is, in some level, but just the concept, the plot isn’t) – and was disappointed. Most of all: I don’t remember the movie well anymore (I just was in utter confusion while reading your descriptions of single scenes and characters! XD), which means, for me, it was neither good nor bad, but on the verge in between. Maybe a re-watch is necessary.
Very interesting you didn’t like it either, though, hohoho.
I think I just care about bad tactical decisions too much. In real life, these kinds of things would just never happen, because, after all, your life is on the line. You can be irrational and emotional and all that, but you don’t send yourself to death pointlessly.
Actually now I am surprised that you didn’t really like it either! XXXXXD I had no idea!