Pan's Labyrinth - (2006)
Guillermo Del Toro is a Mexican director and writer who has directed a wide variety of films, from the comic book adaptations (Blade II, Hellboy) to historical fantasy and horror films, two of which are set in Spain in the context of the Spanish Civil War. In addition to his directing works, del Toro is a prolific producer, his producing works include acclaimed and/or successful films such as The Orphanage (2007), Julia's Eyes (2010), Biutiful (2010), Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011), Puss in Boots (2011), and Mama(2013). He has a deep fascination with the whole world revolving around monsters. He finds them a symbol of power.
The Spanish Civil war broke out when the Spanish army in Morocco when a few of the most influent generals of the Spanish Army, led by General Francisco Franco, rose up against the democratically elected Republican government. It was governed by Manuel Azaña. It was fought between the ranks of the Left also known as (Loyalists and Repulican), Spanish government, Socialists, Communists and Anarchists, against the Right who were known as the Nationalist. For various and somewhat contradictory reasons, the Loyalists received the support of the Soviet Union and European democracies, while the Nationalists were armed and equipped by the Fascist governments of Germany and Italy. There was an estimated 500,000 people killed and 450,000 fled the country.
FranciscoFrancisco Goya was a Spanish romantic painter and printmaker. He was consider one of Spain's most important artist of late 18th and early 19th centuries and throughout his long career was a commentator and chronicler of his era. He is known for his scenes of violence, especially those prompted by the French invasion of Spain. His vivid portrayal of violence and gore is shown in the disasters of war.
Character |
The Title Pan is classic Mythology is the god of the wild, shepherds and flocks, nature of mountain wilds. He is depicted as a faun type creature with hindquarters, legs, and horns of a goat. His association was the title was purely by an accident through translation. According to Del Toro it was himself that chose to use the word Pan, but he's has admitted that the name is not accurate. The faun in the movie was just a trickster, to test Ofelia to see if she was worthy of her rights to the throne.
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Ofelia - She is the main character, she has a love for book and fairy-tails. The story revolves around her and her tasks. She is the princess of the Underworld.
Carmen - She is Ofelia's mother, who is with child. She has recently married a military captain out of protection for herself and Ofelia not for love. She is in the late stages of pregnancies.
Mercedes - She is the maid of the country house where the Military is located, she is the Captain's Right Hand Woman. She is secretly assisting her brother and possible father who are in the guerrilla army which still after defeat fighting the good fight.
Captain - He is the captain of the small army which is located in the country. He is harsh, ruthless and hates the Rebels with a passion.
Faun - He is the Gatekeeper of the last portal to the underworld. He helps Ofelia with her three tasks but also seems like he has another agenda.
Carmen - She is Ofelia's mother, who is with child. She has recently married a military captain out of protection for herself and Ofelia not for love. She is in the late stages of pregnancies.
Mercedes - She is the maid of the country house where the Military is located, she is the Captain's Right Hand Woman. She is secretly assisting her brother and possible father who are in the guerrilla army which still after defeat fighting the good fight.
Captain - He is the captain of the small army which is located in the country. He is harsh, ruthless and hates the Rebels with a passion.
Faun - He is the Gatekeeper of the last portal to the underworld. He helps Ofelia with her three tasks but also seems like he has another agenda.
Character Analysis
Carmen
Carmen decided to get married for protection. She was a single pregnant woman, who had a young child. In the time of civil war, she found a way to save herself and her children. Whether or not it was the right choice, it
The Doctor
The doctor decided not to stoop to the Captains level of cruelty and help him heal the prisoner for continued torture.He preferred to die with the little dignity left in him. He had helped the Captain out of protection for himself.
Ofelia
Ofelia had to decide whether to spill the blood of her innocent brother and claim the throne or not and lose her rights as the princess of the underworld.
Carmen decided to get married for protection. She was a single pregnant woman, who had a young child. In the time of civil war, she found a way to save herself and her children. Whether or not it was the right choice, it
The Doctor
The doctor decided not to stoop to the Captains level of cruelty and help him heal the prisoner for continued torture.He preferred to die with the little dignity left in him. He had helped the Captain out of protection for himself.
Ofelia
Ofelia had to decide whether to spill the blood of her innocent brother and claim the throne or not and lose her rights as the princess of the underworld.
Fairytales
- Princess Moana was the princess of the underworld and had a desire to see the world above. She escaped her keepers and exits the underworld. She forgets who she is and dies a horrible death. Although her Father the King is sad, he sits and waits for her soul to return to the underworld.
The fairy-tail was to Ofelia's brother to try and calm him down. There once was a enormous mountain made from hard, cold stone. At sunset a rose bloomed which gave eternal life to any who touched it. The mountain was surrounded by poisonous thorns , no one dared to climb up. The whisper of eternal life wiltered away just like the flower. This story took aspects from Rapunzel.
The Faun was a servant of the royalty, born of the mountain. He had many names which the only the trees could pronounce
Ofelia was tasked with defeating the giant toad to give the fig tree life again. To succeed in her task, she had to outwit the toad to eat the magic stones. These stones turned the toad inside out, so she could get the golden key.
The portal to the underworld would only open with the blood of an innocent. Ofelia had the choice to sacrifice her brother to gain access, or to give up her rights for becoming a princess. She chose not to bleed the blood of an innocent. The portal only opened with the blood of Ofelia dripped onto the portal. She was taken to a huge courtroom to be reunited with her father. Most fairytales end with they lived happily ever after, and this is the classic fairy tale ending.
The fairy-tail was to Ofelia's brother to try and calm him down. There once was a enormous mountain made from hard, cold stone. At sunset a rose bloomed which gave eternal life to any who touched it. The mountain was surrounded by poisonous thorns , no one dared to climb up. The whisper of eternal life wiltered away just like the flower. This story took aspects from Rapunzel.
The Faun was a servant of the royalty, born of the mountain. He had many names which the only the trees could pronounce
Ofelia was tasked with defeating the giant toad to give the fig tree life again. To succeed in her task, she had to outwit the toad to eat the magic stones. These stones turned the toad inside out, so she could get the golden key.
The portal to the underworld would only open with the blood of an innocent. Ofelia had the choice to sacrifice her brother to gain access, or to give up her rights for becoming a princess. She chose not to bleed the blood of an innocent. The portal only opened with the blood of Ofelia dripped onto the portal. She was taken to a huge courtroom to be reunited with her father. Most fairytales end with they lived happily ever after, and this is the classic fairy tale ending.
Colours
Green - nature, peace, stability, health
Blue - sadness, cold, depth
Gold - courage, royalty, strength, wealth, power, authority
Blue - sadness, cold, depth
Gold - courage, royalty, strength, wealth, power, authority
Colours in the Film
How has Del Toro controlled the colours?
He controls the colours through purposely placing objects and materials to convey a feeling without explicitly showing it. He also shoots in locations where there is more colour to set the overall scene.
Does he associate particular colours with people or storylines?
Whenever there is any scenes heavily supported by the military, they is usually a blue haze over the camera, he also used blue uniforms to give the viewer a sense of cold and harshness to the characters in blue. Also in scenes of low light, there is a high blue content over each scenes.
Did you notice any colours were specifically associated with any characters?
The faun and Ofelia were almost always associated with a green or gold. There was always gold sunlight whenever Ofelia was in the forrest. The military also is associated with blue.
Did you notice that any colour use changed through the progression of the film?
The colours changed when the emotion of the scene changes.
He controls the colours through purposely placing objects and materials to convey a feeling without explicitly showing it. He also shoots in locations where there is more colour to set the overall scene.
Does he associate particular colours with people or storylines?
Whenever there is any scenes heavily supported by the military, they is usually a blue haze over the camera, he also used blue uniforms to give the viewer a sense of cold and harshness to the characters in blue. Also in scenes of low light, there is a high blue content over each scenes.
Did you notice any colours were specifically associated with any characters?
The faun and Ofelia were almost always associated with a green or gold. There was always gold sunlight whenever Ofelia was in the forrest. The military also is associated with blue.
Did you notice that any colour use changed through the progression of the film?
The colours changed when the emotion of the scene changes.