Pans labyrinth is one of the greatest of all fantasy films, even though it is anchored so firmly in the reality of war. The 2006 historical fantasy is loaded with the mexican filmmaker s pet themes, and includes creatures and designs personally conjured up by del toro and bearing his signature style. Pans labyrinth is a political film through del toros representation of fascism. Pans labyrinth is a story of war told through the eyes of an elevenyearold girl who battles the evils of her fantasy worldeven as the rebels fight similar battles in the historical world of 1944 spain.
Posted on dec 12, 2018 by maximusgilhespysfilmstudies. Synopsis pans labyrinth unfolds through the eyes of ofelia, a dreamy little girl who is uprooted to a rural military outpost in fascistruled spain commanded by her new stepfather, the captain. Critical approach characteristics of a postmodern text that can be seen within pan s labyrinth. The first page provides a cast and crew list and a background and int. Pans labyrinth is a 2006 spanishmexican dark fantasy drama horror film written and directed by guillermo del toro and starring ivana baquero, sergi lopez. But the vidal in pan s labyrinth is anything but lifeaffirming. Film studies thursday, october 3, 2019 pans labyrinth scene analysis the introduction of the faun is a rich piece of film making on del toros part. Pans labyrinth is a 2006 film written and directed by the mexican artist guillermo del toro. Doc pans labyrinth a case study lea c weller ba pgcert. Pan s labyrinth quiz and discussion questions film study. Life and death life and death are central themes in pans labyrinth.
It incorporates animatronics and cgi as a way of building its uncanny and fantastical visual world, and was critically acclaimed upon its release. Pans labyrinth is a beautiful and engaging film that has appeal to. Del toro presents that the political message that fascism is a danger and a threat to the citizens. Log in get started home study guides movie pans labyrinth. Set in 1944 in spain s postcivil war era, pan s labyrinth follows the story of a young girl named ofelia who, with her pregnant mother, moves to a rural area to live with her ruthless stepfather. A level film studies focus film factsheet pans labyrinth. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in. In pan s labyrinth this is particularly important as it helps the audience to believe in the world that we are seeing.
Pan s labyrinth is a film of both extraordinary technical accomplishment and intense emotional impact. Or does the movie reveal fascism as a terrible fairy tale brought to life. Pans labyrinth film 2006 study guide movie packet by. The concept of the motion picturemovie study guide used here is taken. Pans labyrinthblurs the line between right and wrong. Pans labyrinth aesthetics revision cards in a level. Pans labyrinth cert 15, 119 mins pans labyrinth unfolds through the eyes of ofelia, a dreamy little girl who is uprooted to a rural military outpost in fascistruled spain, commanded by her new stepfather, the captain. I have taught it many times and the students love it. The 2001 gothic horror film was set in spain, in 1939, and the picture, which del toro. Because carmen s life makes the world of adults look totally draband also totally. Film education resources film library pans labyrinth.
Pans labyrinth has a political message due to its context of being set during the era of fascism after the spanish civil war has concluded early 40s. The film itself might also be a response to a specific historical event as in pan s labyrinth. Such a rich cinematic text deserves close scrutiny and comprehensive study. Pans labyrinth is a fantastic film for high school students and university students alike. Check out the fauns character analysis for more info. Film education is not responsible for the content of external sites. Pan s labyrinth is very much a guillermo del toro film. This also foreshadows the blood s significance at the end of the film, when it is used to unlock the portal to the underworld. Pan s labyrinth is a fantastic film for high school students and university students alike. He uses gothic romance to tell stories of love and hope within the aesthetic conventions of the horror genre. Pan s labyrinth and analyzing the roles that the characters play in each scene to develop the film s theme. Like del toros 2001 picture the devils backbone, pans labyrinth is about the.
View all posts by abigail armstrong s film studies blog published december 30, 2018 february 6, 2019. Ending scene of pans labyrinth film studies a level. This is done to subvert the fairytale stereotype, and foreshadow to the audience how pan s labyrinth. Powerless and lonely in a place of unfathomable cruelty, ofelia lives out her own dark fable as she confronts monsters both otherworldly and human. While the latter was a boys movie the former is meant to be its sister parallel, a female heroine fighting against patriarchal authoritarianism. Intertextuality the referencing of other cultural texts. This volume guides the reader through a detailed analysis of the film, concentrating on the generation of meaning for the viewer. Miseenscene creating the appropriate set and designing costumes, models and props are all an essential part of the story on film. Pans labyrinth is meant to be the spiritual successor to del toros earlier film, the devils backbone.
Pan s labyrinth 2006 by director guillermo del toro, and it is a case of realfantastic cinema. The part of ofelia was first written as an eight or nineyearold girl. With pans labyrinth, however, writerdirector guillermo del toro has built on his proven skills in fantasy hellboy in 2004 and spanish history the devil s backbone from 2001 to produce a work that is at once a logical development of his artistic trajectory and a wholly unexpected masterpiece from a director identified with such lowstatus genres. We realize that this might sound like kind of scary, ominous, uptonogood girl, but shes really just young and curious. Pan s labyrinth is a complex film, unflinchingly exploring the depth of human cruelty as well as goodness. In this case though we are going to explore the historical context which is the subject matter.
Though its themes may seem uncomfortably dark at times, we believe that adolescents are ready to encounter the challenges and. Such a rich cinematic text demands close scrutiny and comprehensive study. I follow a principle that i got from studying theatrical design. Del toro conveys that fascism is violent and oppressive and del toros political representation is a reflection of del toros negative views on political institutions and authoritarianism which emphasises why pans labyrinth has a significantly heavy negative tone towards fascism throughout the film. Directors influence on pans labyrinth guillermo del toro s films have a distinct style and approach to filmmaking. Pans labyrinth is a hybrid of multiple genres, horror, fantasy and historical drama representing ongoing strife after the civil war ended. Pans labyrinth british board of film classification. The films political dimension is never quite as lavishly or as. As early as as early as the first shot were told a lot about ofelia and her nature as a character due to the. The introduction of the faun is a rich piece of film making on del toro s part. Above all else, guillermo del toro movies are known and beloved for their fantastical worlds. Ofelia lives out her own dark fable as she confronts monsters both otherworldly and human.
Tenser music plays as vidal is chasing ofelia through the labyrinth, this is an example of parallel sound, the sound we are hearing is parallel to what we are seeing happen. The labyrinth is the last remaining portal between that kingdom and her current reality. Pan s labyrinth is a fantasydrama film set in 1944 spain and follows ofelia and her mother as they arrive at a military outpost. The look, in particular, of the film helped bring to life perhaps the purest version of del toro s vision. Pan s labyrinth is a contemporary film suitable for discussion in relation to media language, narrative and genre or as the focus for critical research independent study. This is, after all, a man who s most grounded films are pan s labyrinth and crimson peak. If any character in this film makes us want to follow peter pan s lead and never grow up, it s carmen.
Pan s labyrinth can be studied in relation to the research project in fs4, film. Pans labyrinth summary it startslike any good fairy talewith a story about a girl. In that sense there may be two sets of historical contexts. It stars sergi lopez, maribel verdu, ivana baquero, doug jones, and ariadna gil. Blending blending elements of fantasy and history, it tells the story of a young girl growing up in the aftermath of the. Pan s labyrinth 2006 is a film of extraordinary technical achievement and intense emotional impact, garnering acclaim from both critics and audiences alike. Powerless and lonely in a place of unfathomable cruelty. These films share similar settings, protagonists and themes with the 1973 spanish film the spirit of the beehive. Pans labyrinth unfolds through the eyes of ofelia, a dreamy little girl who is uprooted to a rural military outpost in fascistruled spain, commanded by her new stepfather, the captain. Pans labyrinth 2006 by director guillermo del toro, and it is a case of realfantastic cinema. The following 6page document is a study guide movie packet to guide a viewers analysis of the 2006 film pans labyrinth directed by guillermo del toro.
Resources film library pans labyrinth film education. Hybridity the mixing andor recycling of preexisting genres and narratives to construct new forms. The study guide can be used for study in an english or film studies class. All my complicated chaining of heraldic symbology and film and historical references to alliances going back to outremer, months of study and. Pans labyrinth study guide pans labyrinth is a mexicanspanish fantasy film from 2006, written and directed by guillermo del toro. Pan s labyrinth study guide contains a biography of director guillermo del toro, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. A level film studies focus film factsheet he who acts as ofelia s guide and proppian dispatcherdonor. The film itself might also be a response to a specific historical event as in pans labyrinth. But because of english and marketing, things got a little confusingso lets break it down. Pans labyrinth can be studied in relation to the research project in fs4, film.
Each of ofelias choices is a step on her journey to reclaim her innocence. Pans labyrinth is a contemporary film suitable for discussion in relation to media language, narrative and genre or as the focus for critical research independent study. In this case though we are going to explore the historical context which is the subject matter of the film, the spanish civil war and it s aftermath. The brilliance of pans labyrinth is that its current of imaginative energy. Pans labyrinth science fiction and fantasy films the guardian. Film study guide for asalevel spanish english and spanish edition spanish paperback illustrated, april 21, 2017 by guillermo del toro author, jose a. He tells ofelia that she is in fact, princess moanna, daughter of the king and queen of the underworld. The following 6page document is a study guide movie packet to guide a viewer s analysis of the 2006 film pan s labyrinth directed by guillermo del toro.
532 1186 169 1535 927 748 456 122 1511 265 1389 114 692 370 375 99 967 695 1040 138 969 469 298 201 1215 33 1190 180 556 1429 38 1374 774 812