Burke Revival Film & Discussion Series: 'Pan’s Labyrinth'

UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies and the Burke Lectureship on Religion & Society, in partnership with Digital Gym Cinema, proudly announce the third season of the Burke Revival Film & Discussion Series. Returning to UC San Diego Park & Market’s Digital Gym Cinema, the acclaimed series continues its mission to explore profound ethical, spiritual, and societal questions through powerful works of cinema.

Season 3, titled “Authoritarianism in Full Cinematic View,” confronts themes of control, propaganda, and resistance through three visionary films:" Pan’s Labyrinth" (Guillermo del Toro), "The Master" (Paul Thomas Anderson), and "Brazil" (Terry Gilliam). Each screening includes a guided post-film discussion led by Rev. Scott Young, spiritual advisor and film scholar, who curates the series and fosters community dialogue that connects the films to our shared contemporary struggles.

Synopsis: Set in Spain during World War II. This is the story of a young girl named Ofelia. She is a girl who has a passion for fairy tales, which causes her to see one during her trip in the forest that is not quiet. She goes to her stepfather’s home in the country along with her pregnant but sickly mother, he is the sadistic Captain Vidal. Ofelia creates an imaginary world of her own to escape the cruel and harsh realities of the world. When she encounters a faun, she must complete three tasks in order to obtain immortality according to the legend of a princess.

Notes From Guest Speaker Rev. Scott Young:

"Pan’s Labyrinth" (2006) is a cinematic portrayal of the authoritarian realities in family, country, and fantasies. It’s multi-form, moving image beauty contrasts with the brutal ugliness of authoritarian cruelty and pervasiveness. Through the layering of vital cinematic themes, director Guillermo del Toro creatively locates authoritarian impulses in the classic fairy tale. This is a genre-bending production, and it’s cinematic brilliance was rewarded with several film awards at the time of it’s release.

"Pan’s Labyrinth" is the first film in the 3rd season of the UCSD/Burke Lectureship: Religion & Society Revival Film Screening and Discussion Project. Our theme in this 3rd iteration is: "Authoritarianism in Full Cinematic View." del Toro’s film will guide us into this dark theme searching for understanding of the dynamics of authoritarianism and issuing in resilient resistance!

It should be noted that 2006 witnessed the arrival in Hollywood of the “Tres Amigos” Directors: Alfonso Cuaron, Guillermo del Toro, and Alejandro Inarritu. We inaugurated our series with a screening of Cuaron’s, Children of Men. Now from del Toro, Pan’s Labyrinth. Future screenings will likely include an Inarritu film. Collectively, they have garnered numerous Academy Awards. One additional mention is that 2 Spanish philosophers Jose Ortega y Gasset and Miguel De Unamuno, writing as critics of the Franco dictatorship, share many similar thoughts on authoritarianism with del Toro’s insightful movie. Reading books & watching films are the cultural roadblocks to authoritarianism in its several manifestations. Lights, Camera, Action Resistance!

Digital Gym Cinema on Facebook / Instagram