Pan’s Labyrinth Flashcards
who directed the film?
guillermo del toro
when was the film made?
2006
what is the genre?
drama / fantasy / war
when is the film set? + context
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 is ofelia reckless?
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 does ofelia’s protective nature get her into danger?
standing up against Vidal to protect her brother
how is ofelia brave?
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 does ofelia go against patriarchal values and conformity?
when she ruins her dress
how is ofelia shown as caring?
cares for her mother (stops the driver immediately when her mother feels sick)
how is mercedes powerful?
secretly had power over the Captain (but he didn’t know it)
how is mercedes clever?
hides her true intention throughout (hiding the knife)
how is mercedes strong willed?
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 is mercedes resourceful?
uses what she has access to (kitchen knife) to protect herself
how is mercedes maternal?
cares for Ofelia when her mother dies, protects the rebels and makes sure they’re safe
how is mercedes brave?
taking risks in order to help the people she loves (rebels) despite going against the most feared man in Spain
how is mercedes unprepared?
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 is vidal caring?
does what he can to ensure his son survive, even if it means killing his wife
how is vidal in control?
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
how is vidal oppressive?
doesn’t let women decide (wife’s life or his sons)
how is vidal arrogant?
only looks out for himself, ignores the actions of others e.g undermines Mercedes due to her gender and is oblivious to her power
how does vidal show sadistic dominance?
shoots the two people with the rabbits, proves his willingness to kill innocent people to show his officials not to waste time
how is vidal villainous?
murders Ofelia, reveals he wants his baby to survive over Carmen as this is all he cares about
how is carmen hopeful?
that by marrying the Captain it will give them a strong future in Spain after the war
how is carmen naive?
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
how is carmen restrained?
put herself in a situation where she cannot leave the house, cannot look after her daughter and cannot stand up for herself
how is carmen blind to ofelias needs?
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)
what does the lighting represent in the film?
warm - love (mother and daughter), fantasy / world of happiness
cold - war, fascism, restraint
what triggers ofelias embark on escape?
vidal threatens her security
what elements of the film engage the audience?
- ofelia (innocence, loneliness, loss)
what close shot shows mercedes’ resourcefulness?
tucking the kitchen knife into her skirt
what element of sound is running through the film, and why?
a lullaby - conveys traditional motherhood, the fantasy world and innocence
how are women represented?
- 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)
how are men represented?
- dominant and strong
- positions of power
- dictators
- masculine (spotless uniform, narcissistic grooming/shaving/polishing his boots)
what does the green / brown colour palette represent?
NATURAL WORLD
- home of the rebels
- represents the rebels positively / as good people
what does the yellow / orange colour palette represent?
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
what does the grey / cold colour palette represent?
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
what is representation?
the way films portray people, communities, experiences, events or ideas
what are binary oppositions?
where a pair of related concepts / characters are opposite in meaning
who represents this binary opposition?
HERO vs VILLAIN
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
who represents this binary opposition?
POWERFUL vs POWERLESS
men vs women
- males dominating females
- vidal deciding over carmen
- vidal dictating mercedes life
(however, this binary opposition is challenged by mercedes)
who represents this binary opposition?
INDEPENDENT vs DEPENDENT
ofelia vs carmen
- carmen relies on vidal for survival
- ofelia is independent (doesn’t need anyone to survive)
what are the social contexts?
- set in spain 1944
- females = housewives, men = workers
what are the political contexts?
- spanish civil war
- strong fascist rule
- unfair policies causing deaths
what are the cultural contexts?
- differs from conventions in hollywood
