Pan's Labyrinth & Hansel and Gretel

Malachi Jay Bruno

Introduction to Film

Growing up, I have always been a dedicated Tim Burton fan, and found a significant other that also praises his work. It was odd that we had both never heard of his version of Hansel and Gretel, even more so, the things that were shown in the film were unlike any form of art or film I'd seen before. Doing a little research on German Expressionism in film opened my eyes to a new world of cataclysm: art with no need for restrictions, and cryptic galore. 

German Expressionism began with the banning of all foreign films in the early 1900s, and due to the aftermath of WWI, there were a lot of graphic, unsettling, and violent themes introduced into art. With nightmare-fuel scenes and strange interactions between unloyal characters, it was only natural that Hansel & Gretel could be categorized as such. This film follows the basic plot of the old folk-tale, but it takes strides to alienate the tale and make, what one would call, a "cryptic masterpiece". As I read more and more about German expressionism, I began to see the similarities in Burton's work, and how he might've been inspired to create films that evoked a similar feeling. As can be seen in many of his popular films, for example, Corpse Bride (I mean, the title says it all!), it is introduced as a romantic film with a darkened scene, that only gets more twisted as it goes. When you think about Burton's films in general, it's unlikely you'll find one that doesn't consist of these common themes: the unknown, the gothic, the haunting, and the unsettling. He pushes the boundaries of the aesthetically pleasing and instead focuses on twisted trees, over-lapping angles, and expressive characters with ulterior motives. 

By taking something that the mass majority of people know, like fairy or folk tales, and mixing it with german expressionism, an art that many might not be familiar with, he is essentially creating his own genre. Burtonesque. What many people don't know is where his inspiration came from, and how similar his films are to the old german expressionistic ones. Doing this research allowed me to take a good look at Tim Burton's brain, and examine what exactly is so attractive about german expressionism's disturbing way of creation. But that's just it, this form of art isn't supposed to be attractive, aesthetically pleasing, or comforting in any way. It's branching off of the old, creating the new, and allowing these graphic films to be re-introduced in a more modern light.