Limes with Orange

I had the opportunity on Monday night of going to an advance screening of Pan's Labyrinth. It is one of those rare movies that I found completely satisfying on all levels: A gothic fairy tale worthy of the Brothers Grimm, with familiar classic elements that are made to feel fresh and original; a backdrop of the all too real man-made evil of the Spanish civil war; a fantasy that is neither escape nor horror, but a dark refuge; a rich visual tapestry reminiscent of Terry Gilliam or Tim Burton; an eerily lilting lullaby that haunts the recesses of your brain; and a perfectly cast young girl at the centre of it all. (Watch the trailer.)

I was enthralled as a viewer. I was inspired as a filmmaker. In the application that I just submitted for the Herland IN:Camera Workshop, the short film I proposed was based on a modern retelling of the Greek myth of Persephone and Demeter. There were definitely elements of that myth present in the movie: the underworld, the pomegranates in the bowl of fruit that she's not supposed to eat. Not that either of those are restricted to my particular myth, but the association pleased me. As did the young girl's name: Ofelia, the Spanish form of Ophelia. Perhaps it was not intended to reference Shakespeare but, once again, the association pleased me.

I also particularly appreciated the ending. Do you believe only in the tangible, corporeal world? Or do you believe in dreams and fantasy? It doesn't really matter; you can interpret the ending to suit either.

Me? I'm a dreamer.

Labels: books and literature, film, pop culture