Civil War Symbolism

Rating: 10/10 (21 January 2007)

One of the best jobs in direction since LOTR. This movie is beautiful with its soundtrack and production. The story is touching and disturbing. However, I find it strange that more people haven't commented on the Spanish Civil War symbolism in the movie.
We know from The Devil's Backbone that this movie would be more that a fantasy, just like The Devil's Backbone was more than a ghost story. Del Toro is using an old Spanish tradition of allegory, just like the old Pastores plays would criticize the government and the church using fantastic tales of quests and devils. I would like to put out some theories on the symbolism and see of any one agrees:
The Tree and The Frog
The Tree is Womenhood and the Frog is Franco.
(After Franco took over, women could no longer get abortions or seek divorce. They were discouraged from working outside the home. Franco died from peritonitis, a disease which makes you throw up.
Tree resembles female reproductive organs
The Pale Man is the Catholic Church in Spain.
Red and White Stimata (hands) Note the church-like hall She eats the fruit of knowledge
Running out of time..so will be quick
Pan=The search for truth, independent thought (that's why the Capitan can't see him)
Baby= New Spain, after Franco
Ofelia = spirit of the Repulican Movement (That's why she has to die to be reborn)
No more time, but you could watch this movie many times and still not catch all the symbolism. Bravo Del Toro. This movie is brilliant...Vale