Summary
- For this project I chose to watch Pan’s Labyrinth. The reason I chose this film was because I’ve seen other films from Guillermo del Toro that I really enjoyed.
Film Analysis
| Film Title | Pan’s Labyrinth |
| Year | 2006 |
| Director | Guillermo del Toro |
| Country | Spain |
| Genre | Fantasy, Drama |
| If you could work on this film (change it), what would you change and why? | I think the best scenes from the film were the fantasy aspects. The production and the affects were very authentic and well done. I just wish we got to see more of that world since it’s not showed very often. |
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 carry out three tasks ordered by the faun, but she struggles by doing so because of Captain Vidal. |
| 4. What is the theme or central, unifying concept? (summarize in one or two words) | Innocent vs. Evil |
| 5. How is the story told (linear, non-linear, with flashbacks, flash-forwards, at regular intervals) | Linear |
| 6. What “happens” in the plot (Brief description)? | Ofelia, who (at the start of the film) lives with her stepfather (Vidal) and her pregnant mother explores until she finds a Labyrinth. In the Labyrinth there is a faun who explains to her that if she completes three tasks she can become the Princess of the Underworld. |
| 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? | The thing that really stands out in this film would either be the set design or the practical affects. These both really had to the fantasy aspect of the film, making it much more unique than most other fantasy films. |
| 8. Is the setting realistic or stylized? What atmosphere does the setting suggest? Do particular objects or settings serve symbolic functions? | The setting is somewhat real (except for the labyrinth). The mysterious and earth-like atmosphere of the labyrinth adds a lot more to the visuals, making it a better/more interesting watch for viewers. |
| 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? | The majority of the characters are soldiers so they are wearing war related outfits. These can convey that most of the characters are the evil in this film and one the other end (someone like Ofelia) seems to wear standard clothing (for the time) showing that shes the innocent of the film. |
| 10. How does the lighting design shape our perception of character, space, or mood? | It seems to be standard/conventional. I guess this can add some sort of relatable aspect to the fantasy. |
| 11. How do camera angles and camera movements shape our view of characters or spaces? What do you see cinematically? | The shots perfectly convey what is needed. Sometimes there is clever camera transitions for quick, yet meaningful transitions between plots. |
| 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 appropriate through the whole thing. When it’s intense it gets intense. When it’s a calming or soothing scene, the music works great. |
| 13. How might industrial, social, and economic factors have influenced the film? Describe how this film influences or connects to a culture? | War is definitely a symbol in the film. I think that it shows how war causes harm towards many innocents. |
| 14. Give an example of what a film critic had to say about this film. Use credible sources and cite sources.Example: “The Shawshank Redemption Movie Review (1994) | Roger Ebert.” All Content. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 June 2015. | “Pan’s Labyrinth is one of the greatest of all fantasy films, even though it is anchored so firmly in the reality of war. (2007) | Roger Ebert. “ |
| 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.Example: from 1:05:00 to 1:10:00.Explain why you chose this scene. | 1:47:00 – 1:52:20 These 5 minutes are the last of the film. I think it well represents the meaning well and also has a satisfying cinematic fantasy ending. |
| 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: | It’s quite simple. I would say the writing was well structured and appropriate considering the scene. |
| b. Sound Design: | Wasn’t anything outstanding, but perfect for the scene. |
| c. Camera Movements/Angles: | The little amount of camera work shows the importance of the last scene and also shows/reveals many visually appealing aspects. |
| d. Light Setup: | The lighting was good enough to perfectly understand what was happening. |
| e. Soundtrack/Score: | Since the final scene was pretty sad but also sweet, the music nicely matched up with the emotion. |
| 18. What’s the socio-cultural context of this film? | I feel like it has something to do with the innocence of people (like Ofelia) being harmed by others in war. It may be more vague than that though. |
This worksheet was developed with ideas from many IB Film teachers, thus should remain in the Creative Commons