Narrative Desire and Disobedience in Pan's Labyrinth

This article argues that the film Pan's Labyrinth articulates forms of resistance coded as disobedience to totalitarian/monologic storytelling as embodied in the character of the fascist Captain Vidal. The narrative disobediences enacted by the young protagonist, Ofelia, in particular work to resist not only political domination of citizens but also the family and women. Further, the narrative disobedience of the film itself also troubles generic boundaries and monologic discourse by multiplying versions and storytelling situations, thus suggesting storytelling itself as a vital and important vehicle for resistance to oppression and as a mechanism of social change.