Pan’s Labyrinth (Setting/theme) The setting contrasts New Spain (the fascists, Captain Vidal) with Old Spain (Ofelia, fairy stories and Republicans). The setting shows the conflict between two ideas of Spain.
Example / Techniques / Effect (link to theme)BP1: Opening contrasts Old and New Spain
First words of film are “Long ago”; then the fairy story is told (Princess Moanna’s escape from labyrinth)
“Spain, 1944. The Civil War is over. Hidden in the mountains, armed men fight the new fascist regime. / a voiceover (the faun with deep, authoritive voice)
Titles on black background. / Immediately establishes fairy tale context, and the ancientness of these stories; Labyrinth set up as representative of fairy tale world, an underworld and old Spain
Establishing the time and place for the main story of the film Post-Spanish civil war (‘36-‘39); titles set up main conflict between old Spain and new (fascist)
BP2: Old Spain: connected to the underworld
Opening: the underworld and Princess Moanna’s escape to human world for wind and sunlight.
Ruins in the actual world, where Princess Moanna was born and died a long time ago
Ruins seen in the background of the rural landscape as the black cars drive towards the old Mill.
Various artifacts: On way to the Old Mill there is the Statue of a Faun (Ofelia replaces the eye)
Pan’s Labyrinth is itself underground. It has spirals in the stairs and the ground. The statue shows a father holding a child holding another child / [yes, there’s too much here for one paragraph; what would you select?]
Camera panning and tracking though the labyrinth. Blue light.
Camera tilts up the labyrinth to a white light.
Camera tracks across ruins, skull, dust
Melt cut to the modern world,
Symbolism; statue =faun
Symbolism: spirals equal circular idea of time
Symbolism of statue=father/Ofelia and brother / Coldness of the underworld; Moanna needs to escape
Outside world promises warmth and light
Brings only ruins death and pain
Moanna reincarnated as Ofelia, but ruins suggest that old Spain still lives in the background and new Spain can’t wipe it out.
The presence of the old statue and Pan’s Labyrinth itself also suggest that old Spain is still present. and has different ideas of time and family than Vidal and fascism.
BP3: Old Spain (fairy tales) connected with nature
Faun on first meeting O: “I’ve had so many names. Old names that only the wind and the trees can pronounce”; “I am the mountain, the forest and the earth.”
Faun’s appearance; bark like skin, moss growing
Faun says Princess Moana known by moon birthmark
Final frame: Ofelia left in “traces” on earth as a flower blooming on the fig tree / Dialogue
Costume
Symbol of circular time (unlike fascist time which is linear)
BP4 New Spain is fascist and violent, against the democracy of old Spain
In dinner party scene, the Captain’s son will grow up in “a new cleansed Spain” without mistaken ideas of “we’re all alike.” Vidal says “we’ll kill them all”
Pale Man and Vidal scenes
PM and V sitting at end of table similarly shot
Rabbit hunter scene
Pile of shoes, paintings on wall in PM house