Guide to Pan's Labyrinth
Sound
Historical Context
Aesthetics
Editing
Cinematography
Age Representation
Political Context
Mise - en - Scene
Social Context
Technological Context
Institutional Context
Nationality Representation
Gender Representation
Warm
Mystical/Magical
Cinematic
Dark
Mysterious
Pleasing/Beautiful
1936 - many working class Spaniards were killed Franco's troops as they advanced through Spain
1940s - Spain was so poor, people died of hunger
Ofelia's father, worker, he is killed
Two men at the beginning are believed to have stolen from Vidal
Remaining Republicans either fled to France or they hid in the forests/mountains
Mercedes' brother part of the Spanish Maquis - hiding in the forest
Surviving republicans were treated like second class citizens, compared to those who supported Franco
Someone suspected of being a 'rojo' (red) was executed without trial
Vidal killing the doctor, immeditely
Vidal kills two men in the beginning believed to have stolen. Were just rabbit hunters
Rationing, there was a food shortage
Vidal's banquet scene - rationing but there is a large amount of food
Catholic Church was supportive of Franco - he restored conservative values
Pale Man - religious representation (hands) also represents Vidal, these higher powers. The two are shown to be very similar, they have the same representation
Priests sit at the banquet with Vidal
Men -
Women -
Ofelia is caught up in the imagination of childhood (fairy tales)
The opening Ofelia is reading the books about fairy tales, she books the fairy tales into her real world
Controlling
Brave
Ofelia - she is the protagonist of the film and ventures into the different tasks by herself. She has no help
Adventurous - Ofelia wonders from the car to the stone statue, #
Mercedes - refuses to tell Vidal anything about the resistance - even though she could die. Cuts him with the knife. --> 'You won’t be the first pig I’ve gutted’
Rebellious/defiant
Ofelia - shaking Vidal’s hand incorrectly and refuses to call him by father 'He's not my father'
Mercedes - Supportive of the resistance (supplies them with medicine and aid) – brother is part of this
Powerful
Mercedes - After surviving Vidal, she decides his own fate (given power and control) – cutting him off ‘tell my son the time that his father died. Tell him…’ ‘No. He won’t even know your name.’
Ofelia - Refuses to kill her brother, takes power away from the faun. She is able to bring the fantasy world to life
Obedient
Ofelia - Following the tasks set by the fawn
Carmen - is told by Vidal to sort out Ofelia. And she does. Lives in a patriarchy
Carmen in general is seen as a necessity for the son to be born, but this is her only use (Vidal tells the doctor to at all costs make sure the baby survives)
Women were treated terribly in the post-war period #
Vidal - Treats Carmen horrifically at dinner table #
Vidal - Obsession over continuing his legacy through his son, even when he is going to die
The men are the ones viewed with power (Vidal and Faun) but it ends up going bad/corrupt
Vidal is called the Captain - gives himself power
Ruthless #
Adulthood
Carmen says ‘fairy tales? Your too old to be filling your head with such nonsense
Vidal does not believe in childhood – does not treat Ofelia any differently
Formal introduction and killing her, with no remorse
None of the adults can engage with the fantasy world (even Mercedes). There lies a lack of belief for the characters
Carmen speaking to Ofelia before burning the Mandrake
'You have to listen to your father. You have to stop all of this As you get older you see that life isn’t like your fairy tales. The world is a cruel place. Magic does not exist!’ #
Faun and the Pale Man, very visual and beautiful creatures #
Make-up and costume of the Pale Man and the Faun. Horrifying but yet beautiful
The Pale Man Scene
Dominant colour on the banquet table is red (the red jelly/red grapes) symbolises the bloodshed from the Pale Man, innocent children
The fireplace behind the Pale Man. - symbolic of Hell and the Pale Man being from hell.
Pale Man Scene - over the shoulder shot of Ofelia, contrast between the light of the fire place and the bad/awful Pale Man
Composition during this scene is similar to that of the Captain's banquet.
The Pale Man is there as a representation of Vidal (those in power who abuse their power) - this is later emphasised at the end when Vidal walks like the Pale Man does (both who chase after Ofelia)
The use of colour throughout the entirety of the film
Ofelia brings a bag with the fairies - used for protection, highlights her innocence as a character. Is brave for going in but needs protection
Blue tints - help to express the coldness of reality and how uncomfortable it is
Warmer tones - used for the fantasy world, warmer, more pleasant environment
Lighting
Reality moments - very low key lighting, dark also a hint of blue in the lights #
Fantasy World - higher key lighting, specifically at the end of the film, gold colors, very light and bright. In contrast it feels over exposed to the rest of the film #
Key theme of Reality Vs Fantasy throughout the film
The lighting use and the colour use for the Fantasy world #
Children's shoes - the holocaust, children are very innocent. The Pale Man resembles figures of power (Hitler)
Sound motif - played in the opening and end.
Nursery rhyme - Ofelia is still a child. Allows for sympathy
Heavy breathing of Ofelia is heard
Circular narrative - start at the end, we see Ofelia dying
Voice over narration at the beginning - from the book, reading fuels her imagination
Cricket turns into a fairy - Reality Vs Fantasy
Element of her that drifts into her own world 'I saw a fairy' - bit a dreamer #
The Rebellious nature of Ofelia - refuses to call Vidal her father and not giving her brother to the Faun. Also eats food from Pale Man when she shouldn't
Guilermo Del Toro
The creatures help represent political power at the time
Deals closely with pain
He has a wide range of visual influences - Pale Man: