Choice Making in "Pan's Labyrinth"

Introduction: "Pan's Labyrinth"

“Pan’s Labyrinth” is a great fantasy film despite its firm anchorage in the reality of war. The movie pose a challenge to first viewers in comprehending fairies and fauns on one hand and the creation of an inhuman sadist on the other. The 11-year old heroine is the only one who sees the fantasies and fauns although it is doesn’t imply that she is just dreaming. The coexistence of the two worlds presents scary elements by setting rules which may lead to the death of the 11-year old character.

Main Theme: The Essence of Decision Making

The essence of decision making is the main idea in this film that connects with some of the Grimms’ fairy tales. It is more important to make the right decisions rather than be concerned with the threat of death. Making the right choices is one of the hardest things that we as human beings encounter in our daily life. The film presents this theme using the acts of different characters such as Ofelia. Ofelia comes across a strange insect that resembles a praying mantis. This friendly and insistent insect seems like a fairy tale to Ofelia. It is surprising how she speaks her mind and the bug turns into vibrating man who leads Ofelia into a labyrinth whereby she meets with the faun.

The Enigmatic Faun

The faun appears to be good as well as evil because of an enormous pile of used shoes, particularly during the Holocaust. Surprisingly, the little man from the bug offers neither evil nor good but the choice that he makes between the two is what puzzles viewers. Del Toro commends Ofelia as "a girl who needs to disobey anything except her own soul." As the director concludes, the entire film is about making choices.