The film is independent from the general American film with its obvious Latin temperament and all-Spanish dialogue, and the unique conception does not make the realistic plot detached from the overall spirit of the film. Basically, this is a sad story dressed in a fairy tale or magic. The reason why the director chose to use the name of fairy tale or magic to interpret this story that takes place in a black background is largely because the protagonist of the story—— Ofelia, a teenager. See this chaotic, unbearable world through her eyes. The biological mother married a brutal fascist captain for various reasons, and for the captain's unreasonable request to have his son born by his side, the mother and daughter were forced to come to the forefront of the confrontation with the guerrillas. The helplessness of her mother, the cruelty of her stepfather, and the smell of killing in the base all the time made the soil in Ofelia's heart that should have been warm gradually cold, and a conscious magical world was born from this.
Every girl has the dream of a princess, Ofelia is no exception, the three tasks set by herself, the terrifying opponent, everything is deeply branded with the imprint of reality. The evil of Captain Vidal is very typical. This is a symbolic character. In the world of Ofelia, his shadow is everywhere. No matter how unrestrained the idea is, it cannot escape the shackles of reality. Ofelia wants to get rid of all this in her own way - complete three missions and return to the underground palace. But at the last moment, a pair of contradictions are highlighted, is it to give up? Or fulfill yourself, even if it is your own brother? Ofelia's choice gave the whole film a touch of warmth. At the end of the film, the underground palace in Ofelia's dream is the only scene in the film full of sunshine and colorful. The curtain did not completely cover our eyes.
It can bring you pain and sadness and scariness and happiness.
——Ivana Baquero (played by Ofelia)
I would replace happiness with hope, which is the perfect phrase to describe this film
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