Disturbing and haunting

Rating: Null/10 (20 March 2007)

Someone else has commented that a knowledge of Greek Mythology and Freudian Psychology would be useful when watching this film. Without that (and my knowledge of both is poor) I think it's difficult to grasp the "message" (if there is one). I am not sure where the links are between the Spanish Civil War and a young girl's nightmarish fantasy world. However, my thoughts are that this film is about what we live and die for. What is worth sacrificing. The blurred line between fantasy and reality. Loss of innocence (shame, guilt, fear, failure, sexuality, death) and redemption.
This film left me feeling very disturbed without being able to say why exactly. I found myself unable to think about much else for hours afterwards. There's a cleverness and a powerfulness here (mostly in the cinematography) which is "brilliant", I guess, in its own dark way. But I would not recommend this to anyone.