Summary
I chose this film because I recognized Guillermo del Toro’s name from his work in Pacific Rim which I thought was really good.
Film Analysis
| Film Title | Pans Labyrinth |
| Year | 2006 |
| Director | Guillermo del Toro |
| Country | Spain Mexico |
| Genre | Fantasy/War |
| If you could work on this film (change it), what would you change and why? | I would just make the CGI better, I actually thought this movie was really good but there were some parts with CGI that were just really lame. The practical effects were amazing to me however. |
Film information can be found at imdb.com
As you view films, consider how the cuts, camera angles, shots, and movement work to create particular meanings. Think about how they establish space, privilege certain characters, suggest relationships, and emphasize themes. In addition to shot distances, angles, editing, and camera movement, note details of the narrative, setting, characters, lighting, props, costume, tone, and sound.
Ask yourself the following questions:
| TOPIC | YOUR NOTES |
| 1. Who is the protagonist? | Ofelia |
| 2. Who is the antagonist? | Captain Vidal |
| 3. What is the conflict? | Ofelia has to complete 3 tasks given to her by the faun. |
| 4. What is the theme or central, unifying concept? (summarize in one or two words) | Innocence |
| 5. How is the story told (linear, non-linear, with flashbacks, flash-forwards, at regular intervals) | In the begging scene, (the backround for the story) is told in a flashback but the rest of the movie is told in Regular intervals |
| 6. What “happens” in the plot (Brief description)? | Ofelia carries out the 3 tasks while being abused by Captain Vidal. The last task, Ofelia proves innocence over evil. |
| 7. How does the film influence particular reactions on the part of viewers (sound, editing, characterization, camera movement, etc.)? Why does the film encourage such reactions? | There’s some quick cut aways from gruesome scenes, which really makes the scene punch more for the audience. |
| 8. Is the setting realistic or stylized? What atmosphere does the setting suggest? Do particular objects or settings serve symbolic functions? | Stylized, The story takes place in WW2 I’m assuming but there are elements of fantasy. For example The Underworld. |
| 9. How are the characters costumed and made-up? What does their clothing or makeup reveal about their social standing, ethnicity, nationality, gender, or age? How do costume and makeup convey character? | Captain Vidal and his soldiers are all dressed as they are higher in the society. With all of the peasants dressed in aprons. |
| 10. How does the lighting design shape our perception of character, space, or mood? | The film is shot in either warm light scenes and dark and cold, creating a good vs evil mood. |
| 11. How do camera angles and camera movements shape our view of characters or spaces? What do you see cinematically? | Lots of cuts between scenes to create tension |
| 12. What is the music’s purpose in the film? How does it direct our attention within the image? How does it shape our interpretation of the image? What stands out about the music? | The music is used mostly to make tension for the audience. |
| 13. How might industrial, social, and economic factors have influenced the film? Describe how this film influences or connects to a culture? | The film is probably influenced by things that happened in Spain during WW2. |
| 14. Give an example of what a film critic had to say about this film. Use credible sources and cite sources. | “Pan’s Labyrinth” is one of the greatest of all fantasy films, even though it is anchored so firmly in the reality of war. On first viewing, it is challenging to comprehend a movie that on the one hand provides fauns and fairies, and on the other hand creates an inhuman sadist in the uniform of Franco’s fascists. The fauns and fantasies are seen only by the 11-year-old heroine, but that does not mean she’s “only dreaming;” they are as real as the fascist captain who murders on the flimsiest excuse. The coexistence of these two worlds is one of the scariest elements of the film; they both impose sets of rules that can get an 11-year-old killed. “Pan’s Labyrinth movie review & film summary (2006) / Roger Ebert.” August 25, 2007. |
| 15. Select one scene no longer than 5 minutes that represents well the whole film and shows relevant cinematic elements. Write a one-sentence description of the scene and record the time of the scene. | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvjiQTdcCRU Ending Scene 0:00 – 4:00 Wraps up the theme |
| 16. In the selected scene: write a sentence for each of the elements below to justify why this scene best represents the film: | |
| a. Screenwriting: | |
| b. Sound Design: | |
| c. Camera Movements/Angles: | Slower more smooth camera movements |
| d. Light Setup: | |
| e. Soundtrack/Score: | Slow and calm to create a feeling of resolution |
| 18. What’s the socio-cultural context of this film? |
This worksheet was developed with ideas from many IB Film teachers, thus should remain in the Creative Commons
