Sound

Question 1

How is sound used in the opening scene (the introduction to Ofelia)?

Answer 1

• The wind (asynchronous)
• Her breathing in reverse (pleonastic sound)
• Mercede’s lullaby (non-diegetic)

Question 2

How is sound used in the scene of Ofelia’s narration?

Answer 2

• The creaking in the bedroom (asynchronous, diegetic)
• The baby brother’s heartbeat in the womb (pleonastic/diegetic)
• The voiceover of Ofelia narrating the fairytale as the take cuts to Vidal (non-diegetic)

Question 3

How is sound used in the introduction to Vidal?

Answer 3

• The clock (pleonastic sound)
• Dialogue (and diegetic sound) - “15 minutes late”

Question 4

How is sound used in the gruesome murder of the farmers?

Answer 4

• Sinister music (non-diegetic)
• Sound of hitting the farmer in the face and the gun shots (diegetic/synchronous) + mangled flesh and fractured skull (parallel)

Question 5

Why is the wind used in the opening sequence?

Answer 5

It creates the atmosphere of supernatural and fantasy.

Question 6

Why is the reversed sound of Ofelia’s breathing used in the opening sequence?

Answer 6

• Accentuates her panic and fear, which makes the audience feel worried for her. - It also runs in parallel with the events

Question 7

Why is Mercedes’ lullaby used in the opening sequence?

Answer 7

• Runs throughout the movie and is associated to Ofelia as a relief and almost like a sound bridge to the fantasy world
• Allows the audience to feel tranquillity despite the scene by moderate tempo and the female vocals that make it sound soothing.
• The minor key and broken chords make it sound jarring and ominous which implies that she is surrounded by fear and danger
• Links to supernatural.

Question 8

Why is the creaking in the bedroom used in Ofelia’s story sequence?

Answer 8

It contributes to an eerie and fantastical setting.

Question 9

Why is the baby brother’s heartbeat used in Ofelia’s story sequence?

Answer 9

• It makes the heartbeat sound realistic to the spectators and establishes a connection between the audience and the newborn
• Shows the baby’s life as a heartbeat is the core of life in all living creatures, creating a mesmerising atmosphere as the audience witnesses the cinematic ultrasound
• Presents the reality of unconditional love that Carmen and Ofelia feel towards the new born, creating a sense of security and also allows spectators to feel those emotions as well

Question 10

Why is Ofelia herself narrating the fairy tale in the sequence?

Answer 10

The shot literally tracks into the womb (and shows the baby) and journeys through the fairy tale as Ofelia narrates it and so depicts how reality is linked with fantasy.

Question 11

Why is the sound of Vidal’s watch used before the Introduction to Vidal sequence starts?

Answer 11

It acts as a sound bridge as Carmen, Ofelia and the audience enter Vidal’s domain.

Question 12

Why is Vidal’s dialogue “15 minutes late” significant in the Introduction to Vidal sequence?

Answer 12

• Portrays his character as controlling and domineering
• Typical fascist traits
• Signifies his anger
• Acts as a criticism that the women are late and instantly places Vidal as in charge of them
• Manipulates the audience into disliking him and establishes him as the antagonist

Question 13

Why is sinister non-diegetic music used in the gruesome murder of the farmers?

Answer 13

• It adds to the event depicted
• Creates a sombre atmosphere which complements the brutal nature of the killing and Vidal’s nature.

Question 14

Why are the sounds of the bottle hitting the face and the gunshots heard (along with sounds of fractures skull and mangled skin) in the famers’ gruesome death sequence?

Answer 14

It emphasises the brutality of the scene.

Question 15

How is sound used in the first task/hunting the rebels sequence?

Answer 15

• The sound bridge of Ofelia reading from the book connects to the scenes of the fantasy world with the movement of the fascists hunting the rebels
• The squelching of mud (pleonastic)
• Ofelia heavy breathing (diegetic)

Question 16

How is sound used in the toad scene?

Answer 16

• Dialogue (“Aren’t you ashamed? Living down here, eating all these bugs and growing fat while the tree dies?”)
• Toad roaring (diegetic/parallel)
• Diegetic sound of Ofelia’s heavy breathing + the thunder and rain (parallel)

Question 17

Why was Ofelia’s narration of the fantasy world in sync with the scenes of the fascists hunting the rebels?

Answer 17

• Sound bridge of Ofelia reading from the book connects to the scenes of the fantasy world with the movement of the fascists hunting the rebels (parallel)
• The first time that the worlds of the fascists and the fantasy realm collide

Question 18

Why was the pleonastic sound of squelching mud used in the first task scene?

Answer 18

• The toad’s realm is an immoral, disgusting place
• Mocking fascism and its deceiving nature of harming others in order to ‘cleanse’ Spain

Question 19

Why was the diegetic sound of Ofelia’s breathing used in the first task scene?

Answer 19

It shows that Ofelia is afraid of the monster.

Question 20

What did Ofelia sat to the toad?

Answer 20

“Aren’t you ashamed? Living down here, eating all these bugs and growing fat while the tree dies?”

Question 21

Why does the dialogue “Aren’t you ashamed…” used in the toad scene?

Answer 21

• The toad is greedy and selfish, representing Vidal and the fascist regime
• Her baby brother as Carmen is dying
• A patriarchal comment – Ofelia’s baby brother is more valuable than her or her mother

Question 22

Why is the diegetic/synchronous sound of the toad’s roar used in the toad scene?

Answer 22

• Has no shame for what it is doing (reflective of fascist regime)
• It is a violent, abrupt sound (like the bombs used in the Spanish Civil War)
• Displays its aggression

Question 23

Why is the diegetic sound of Ofelia’s breathing combined with the parallel sounds of thunder and rain used at the end of the first task sequence?

Answer 23

• Creates danger and tension (impending sense of doom)
• The ominous sound implies her journey is not over