Pan's Labyrinth - Overly Depressing Towards Women
Why it Won 3 Academy Awards is Unfathomable
The main problem with this movie is that the women are excessively portrayed in a less than favorable light, mistreated, abused, and finally killed by war mongering men. Yes, it is the time of the Spanish Civil War and men are also victims of violence, but not quite to the degree and humiliation of women. The main question to ask the writer/director Guillermo del Torro is if he has any daughters of his own, and what kind of message is he installing in them, frankly in all of us, as to the degree to allow the humiliation of women?
The Role of Carmen, Ofelia's Pathetic Mother
Carmen, Ofelia's mother and wife of Captain Vidal, takes human suffering and subjugation to new levels. She finds no love or support from her husband, and indeed is slated to die upon child birth if given a choice to save the life of the child or mother. Carmen, indeed, dies during childbirth. Yet, not before she is able to pass along the most depressing 'words of wisdom' to her daughter Ofelia, that life is cruel and hard.
Ofelia, meanwhile, being only a little girl tries to inculcate some semblance of reasoning to her mother with obvious questions as to why she married the Captain in the first place, why are they living with him, etc. The only answer she is able to obtain, repeatedly, by the self made beast-of-burden-mother is that when she is older she will understand and that things are too complicated to explain.
The last few days of Carmen's life were heavy. While suffering pain from her pregnancy, she also endures humiliation and insults from the wives of other General's during a dinner party in her house. Not only is she insulted by her guests, but she is insulted by her husband who pleads forgiveness for his wife's homely nature. Instead of causing a scene, leaving the table, ordering the guests to leave, or some other form of self worth, she bows her head as her husband belittles her even further.
With a mother like this, Ofelia has a severe lack of role model for her developing sense of self, unfortunately.
The Role of Ofelia - Brave But Murdered
Ofelia, thankfully, does manage to have more spunk on her own. Where she obtains it, who knows, since it certainly was not handed down by her mother. She constantly defies her new 'father', refuses to call him father, and even steals her baby brother away from him.
Ofelia is mired in the world of fairies and goblins, who clearly have their own issues. Actually, it is one of them, the Faun, that asks to take her baby brother for sacrifice. Ofelia naturally refuses, and is killed by the Captain with a gun shot to the stomach.
As Ofelia's blood pours into the fairy world below, her spirit is heralded by her true parents and cohorts for sacrificing herself to save her baby brother. Although her baby brother is saved, Ofelia, yes another female killed by a man, dies in a mortal sense.
Summary
The media needs to wake up to such blatant mistreatment of the role of women in any movie. Why were the roles not reversed? The fact that this movie has won so many awards and recognition deeply troubles me, as a woman, and actually plays a role in propagating violence against women. Yes, at the end of the day, this is fiction and is protected by the creative umbrella of anything goes and free speech.
Just once, it would be welcome to see a fantasy movie where the roles were reversed, where the women were constantly humiliating and killing men. Yet, how would this role reversal go over with the Academy Awards? At least it would give young women time to pause and realize that the constant stream of violence against women by the media has taken a refreshing change of pace. There is a choice, and no one from any gender needs to take mistreatment of any kind.
Violence against women by their husbands, and child abuse by their care takers are all very real problems, which were glorified to new heights in this movie with fairies and fauns prancing nearby. One can only wonder about the material for Pan's Labyrinth 2, but it will probably continue the the female-degredation-hit-parade, unfortunately.
Published by tanti38
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10 Comments
Post a CommentA movie is supposed to portray reality for how you believe it is? No one will ever take this seriously if you don't bring in counter arguments. Whining about something you see only makes your bickering seem like someone who is unable to deal with the world around them and wants to be in control. This was even a theme in the movie and see how it turned out. When I saw the movie, i did not realize an attack on women, but rather an attack on the rationality of humanity. To be as self-centered and creating one sided judgments like you did brings me to the conclusion that the larger picture and meaning will escape you, so i won't tell you to do anything other than to not express what you believe could use more understanding.
This is perhaps the most ridiculous review I've ever read. If anything, this movie glorifies females that are able to break out from under male dominance during a time that it was unheard-of.
Ofelia's mother serves as a foil - a stark contrast to Ofelia and Mercedes - and a demonstration of what can occur if a woman loses her will and gives in to male domination.
Ofelia and Mercedes show just how large of an impact one person can have if she is brave enough to self-sacrifice and stand for what they believe in.
I'm sorry. I don't believe you have any understanding of the deeper messages in this movie. You should take a much closer look.
Did you forget how many men died at that man's hands too? How about the man who was tortured? Everyone who came into contact with the captain was humiliated. But in the end it was a woman who humiliated and ultimately brought about his demise and even his legacy.
Yes, let's pretend that violence against women never occurs as long as we don't talk about, and instead blame victims for letting it happen to them. I mean, everything is the fault of women, right?
i love how you say that you know that it was set at the time of the Spanish civil war but seeing as im guessing you werent there how would you know that women werent treated unfairly just like in the film?
Why are you ignoring the role of Mercedes in the film? She does exactly what you are looking for in "constantly humiliating and killing men," especially what she physically does to Vidal when she is captured and at the end of the film as well. You might want to watch it again.
Thank you for your views, however, I believe that your interpretations of the violence towards women in the movie are largely erroneous. True, women were abused and tormented immensely in the film, yet one can not deem the film sexist just because it portrays sexism. For example, a movie like Schindler's List was about anti-semitism, but it is far from an anti-semitic film. Indeed, I believe that Pan's Labyrinth emphasizes the strength of women to overcome oppression--in this sense, it really demonstrates how courageous and incredible women can be. I really don't understand how a review of Pan's Labyrinth can focus entirely on irrelevant issues like the portrayl of women while ignoring the incredible story of a girl's fantasy paralleled by the oppression of a fascist regime. So once again, thanks for trying, but you really missed the point here.
Also, the women in PL weren't all portrayed in a bad light. Actually if anything, the women were portrayed in a better light than the men in the film. And it is a woman who takes down the fascist Capt. The focus on (3) women (instead of men) is a theme of fairy tales. But had the focus been on a little boy instead, PL still would be worthy of its Oscars. It's really a quite complex film about morals, politics, fantasy, reality, etc. Here's another interesting view on PL: http://blog.wired.com/tableofmalcontents/2007/02/pans_labyrinth_.html Anyways, I appreciate your perspective. Violence againts Women in media is an issue that does need discussing, etc.
I respect your opinion & understand your stance. But, what's interesting about PL is the reality found in the fantasy. Women sacrificing self-worth to have a "better" life and girls being killed despite their bravery is part of reality; especially during Spanish Fascism which PL's reality is based upon. Not only is the violence put in a historical context, but it's disturbing. Most movies where violence vs. women is truly glorified show violence gratuitously and in a manner that actually isn't very disturbing.
they were torturing men in the movie...more men were killed, there were a few women parts they were in the same war region as everyone else and suffered accordingly...looking for hidden messages supporting violence towards women is a bunch of baloney...it was a beautiful movie