Chosen by special guest Paul Mabon (HBO's Def Poetry, Brooklyn Nine-Nine) Pan's Labyrinth (2006) is a fantasy/war/horror film from writer/director Guillermo del Toro. Ofelia and her mother Carmen move in with the sadistic fascist Captain Vidal as he searches for rebels in the mountains of Spain. At the same time, Ofelia is pulled into a dark and dangerous world of fairy tales that may be, just as, if not, more dangerous, than the real world. Will she survive? Is she really the Princess of the Underworld? Or, is it all an illusion? 

Paul details the many ways in which Captain Vidal is a complex and fascinating character, from his love of torture, to his obsession with his father's watch and legacy. Matt Sedillo situates the film in its historical context, pointing to other fascist leaders in Europe during the time of Franco's Spain and explains why the Republic failed. Jeanne Marie Spicuzza talks about the importance of truth, and how it, and sacrifice, can be the path to immortality and toppling fascism. David A. Romero explains how the film sets up multiple meals to portray the fascists' abundance contrasting with the scarcity inflicted upon the people. Join us next week as we discuss Matt's pick of the week: Pather Panchali (1955) directed by Satyajit Ray.