AS C2SB European Film: Pan's Labyrinth

Question 1

What year is PL set in?

Answer 1

1944

Question 2

In which real place is PL set?

Answer 2

In the hills of Northern Spain

Question 3

Which war is taking place at time PL is set?

Answer 3

WW2

Question 4

Name the conflict which took place in Spain before the films begins, between 1936 and 1939

Answer 4

The Spanish Civil War - the Nationalists, led by General Franco, won

Question 5

Name the two sides in the Spanish Civil War

Answer 5

The Republicans versus the Nationalists

Question 7

Name the leader of the Nationalists in the Spanish Civil War

Answer 7

General Franco

Question 8

What is the name of the specific grouping led by Franco (Vidal is also a member of this group)

Answer 8

The Falangists

Question 9

Francoism is a specific ideology based on three other ideologies/traditions. Name them.

Answer 9

Fascism; Monarchism; Catholicism

Question 10

Vidal’s father was killed fighting in Morocco - why is that significant?

Answer 10

Morocco (a Spanish colony at the time) is where General Franco made his name by defeating republican forces. Vidal idolises both his father and ‘El Caudillo’, Franco.

Question 11

The Nationalists and Republicans had very different ideologies - what were they, briefly?

Answer 11

Nationalists: Right-wing (conservative) traditionalist ideology encompassing a version of Fascism, monarchism and very traditional Spanish Catholicism (similar in many ways to Mussolini in Italy). Generally conservative in terms of importance of traditional family especially the role of women as wives and mothers with male/father at the head; anti-divorce, and women’s rights as workers (effectively banned by Franco) the role of the powerful Catholic Church within the State; influence of the monarchy and notion of absolute power & control of one strong militaristic (male) leader; anti-trade unions/workers’ organisations.
Republicans: Left-wing/liberal internationalist rather than nationalist; left/liberal ideological mish-mash inc. communists, socialists. trade unions, anarchists and the International Brigades. Generally more progressive in terms of attitudes to workers’/women’s rights, including de-criminalisation of prostitution, women’s rights at work, divorce etc, and the existence of one women-only brigade during the SCW.

Question 12

Name the three key female characters in PL.

Answer 12

Ofelia, Carmen & Mercedes

Question 13

Name three key male characters in PL.

Answer 13

Captain Vidal, Dr.Ferreiro & the faun (arguably the Pale Man)

Question 15

What’s the significance of the way in which Vidal greets Carmen & Ofelia?

Answer 15

Both: Vidal checks his pocket watch - he runs by the clock and is also obsessed with the past and the future. Carmen: Vidal greets her by placing his hand on her belly ( the vessel for his son!), then insists that she sit in a wheelchair, effectively ‘disabling’ her. Carmen is primarily valued as a mother/incubator.
Ofelia: grips her left hand in his black leather glove (right hand). A small but significant act: republicans greeted with their left hand, whilst nationalists used the right. Ofelia is probably completely unaware of this, but Vidal picks up on anything which )in his eyes) is a challenge to him or his beliefs.

Question 16

Del Toro: ‘ …fascism…is the absolute absence of ________________, the absolute lack of __________ and the most ____________ expression of power’

Answer 16

imagination; choice; masculine

Question 17

Identify six important props in the Pale Man scene

Answer 17

The key (from the last mission), the knife (for the final sacrifice), the grapes (the temptation ; the pile of shoes (the warning: holocaust reference); the chalk (the portal between the worlds); the hourglass (yet another measure of time);

Question 18

Identify three examples of how time is referenced, how and why

Answer 18

1. Vidal’s pocket watch in the opening and closing scene: he runs everything by the clock and is also obsessed with the past (his father) and the future (his fate and legacy embodied by his son).
2. The hourglass in the Pale man scene: the time set by the Faun for Ofelia’ second mission.
3. Phases of the moon: Ofelia is shown bearing a mark on her shoulder with the image of a crescent moon. When Ofelia’s sacrifices herself to save her brother, the moon is full, symbolizing the completion of Ofelia’s journey.