Pan’s Labyrinth Flashcards

1
Q

who directed the film?

A

guillermo del toro

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

when was the film made?

A

2006

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

what is the genre?

A

drama / fantasy / war

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

when is the film set? + context

A

1944 - the same time as the Spanish Civil War (there was a strong fascist rule at the time by General Francisco Franco, who was responsible for the death of over 400 000 oppressors)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

how is ofelia reckless?

A

warned not to touch the food by the Faun but still ate the grapes (led to bad consequences, started a negative chain of events)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

how does ofelia’s protective nature get her into danger?

A

standing up against Vidal to protect her brother

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

how is ofelia brave?

A

faces the frog (horrifying) and pale man (who had murderous intent) in order to complete her missions
+ saves her brother from the captain, risks her life to protect him from harm

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

how does ofelia go against patriarchal values and conformity?

A

when she ruins her dress

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

how is ofelia shown as caring?

A

cares for her mother (stops the driver immediately when her mother feels sick)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

how is mercedes powerful?

A

secretly had power over the Captain (but he didn’t know it)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

how is mercedes clever?

A

hides her true intention throughout (hiding the knife)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

how is mercedes strong willed?

A

knows what she wants from the start of the film (kill Vidal and protect Ofelia and the rebels) and does this to her best efforts

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

how is mercedes resourceful?

A

uses what she has access to (kitchen knife) to protect herself

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

how is mercedes maternal?

A

cares for Ofelia when her mother dies, protects the rebels and makes sure they’re safe

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

how is mercedes brave?

A

taking risks in order to help the people she loves (rebels) despite going against the most feared man in Spain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

how is mercedes unprepared?

A

secrets are catching up with her as the film goes on, has an affect on protecting Ofelia when she has to flee from the Captain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

how is vidal caring?

A

does what he can to ensure his son survive, even if it means killing his wife

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

how is vidal in control?

A

uses his authority to control others, always the head of the dinner showing his status, camera angles shows him towering over the doctor showing his dominance

19
Q

how is vidal oppressive?

A

doesn’t let women decide (wife’s life or his sons)

20
Q

how is vidal arrogant?

A

only looks out for himself, ignores the actions of others e.g undermines Mercedes due to her gender and is oblivious to her power

21
Q

how does vidal show sadistic dominance?

A

shoots the two people with the rabbits, proves his willingness to kill innocent people to show his officials not to waste time

22
Q

how is vidal villainous?

A

murders Ofelia, reveals he wants his baby to survive over Carmen as this is all he cares about

23
Q

how is carmen hopeful?

A

that by marrying the Captain it will give them a strong future in Spain after the war

24
Q

how is carmen naive?

A

thinks the Captain will love and protect her when he only cares about the birth of his son in order for his legacy to continue

25
Q

how is carmen restrained?

A

put herself in a situation where she cannot leave the house, cannot look after her daughter and cannot stand up for herself

26
Q

how is carmen blind to ofelias needs?

A

doesn’t realise the importance of fairytales to Ofelia for her to live in her new situation (tells her they are not real/nonsense, screaming after the root was found under the bed)

27
Q

what does the lighting represent in the film?

A

warm - love (mother and daughter), fantasy / world of happiness
cold - war, fascism, restraint

28
Q

what triggers ofelias embark on escape?

A

vidal threatens her security

29
Q

what elements of the film engage the audience?

A
  • ofelia (innocence, loneliness, loss)
30
Q

what close shot shows mercedes’ resourcefulness?

A

tucking the kitchen knife into her skirt

31
Q

what element of sound is running through the film, and why?

A

a lullaby - conveys traditional motherhood, the fantasy world and innocence

32
Q

how are women represented?

A
  • traditional (female jobs e.g cook, housewife, slave, birthgivers)
  • no power (decisions are taken away from them e.g put in wheelchair, where her son is born)
33
Q

how are men represented?

A
  • dominant and strong
  • positions of power
  • dictators
  • masculine (spotless uniform, narcissistic grooming/shaving/polishing his boots)
34
Q

what does the green / brown colour palette represent?

A

NATURAL WORLD
- home of the rebels
- represents the rebels positively / as good people

35
Q

what does the yellow / orange colour palette represent?

A

FANTASY WORLD
- idealistic place at the end of the film (heaven) is seen in the golden colours
- contrasts the dark real life of ofelia
- red colours are the dangers that she has to survive e.g pale man

36
Q

what does the grey / cold colour palette represent?

A

FASCISM
- uninviting view of the real world
- ofelias perspective of her new life
- war
- vidals personality
- mechanical world e.g steel metal conveying the fascist rule

37
Q

what is representation?

A

the way films portray people, communities, experiences, events or ideas

38
Q

what are binary oppositions?

A

where a pair of related concepts / characters are opposite in meaning

39
Q

who represents this binary opposition?
HERO vs VILLAIN

A

mercedes vs vidal
- when Mercedes attempts to murder Vidal with the hidden knife
- she tries to bring him to justice after all the crimes he has committed

40
Q

who represents this binary opposition?
POWERFUL vs POWERLESS

A

men vs women
- males dominating females
- vidal deciding over carmen
- vidal dictating mercedes life
(however, this binary opposition is challenged by mercedes)

41
Q

who represents this binary opposition?
INDEPENDENT vs DEPENDENT

A

ofelia vs carmen
- carmen relies on vidal for survival
- ofelia is independent (doesn’t need anyone to survive)

42
Q

what are the social contexts?

A
  • set in spain 1944
  • females = housewives, men = workers
43
Q

what are the political contexts?

A
  • spanish civil war
  • strong fascist rule
  • unfair policies causing deaths
44
Q

what are the cultural contexts?

A
  • differs from conventions in hollywood