An In depth Analysis of Pans Labyrinth
An analyse of 'Pans Labyrinth' concentrating mainly on the editing, sound effects, music and mise en scene.
(00:09) An opening medium shot of horses being ridden by soldiers (the audience gathers this partially through their uniformed clothes) they are partly hidden by trees which sets the screen in a forest, tracking is used to show the soldiers galloping through the forest. The backing music is light and enchanting which emphasizes the genre of the movie to the audience. It is a simple tune played by a piano and each note plays in sync to the movement of the shots, changing each time a new shot is played, the short gap of silence in between each note adds to the suspense and creates a Gothic like element towards the atmosphere. The shot is used for barely a second and is followed by a second medium shot, the dark lighting here contrasts with the previous shot where the soldiers are highlighted by daylight. The furniture and burning fire create a time period for the movie which traditionally meets the conventions linked to a fairytale movie and also add to the Gothic fairytale genre. A panel of window light is shining through to emphasize a sleeping child. Again the shot is quickly changed and followed by medium close up of one of the soldiers in the same forest. As he begins to turn towards the camera we return again to the child. A birds eye view shot is used to show her laying in bed, eyes open. The only lighting that is used is the same shadowy moonlight shining through the window. The variety of shots moving at a quick pace continues to capture the audiences attention and the trance like music emphasizes the eerie atmosphere.
(00:14) ''WHAT HAPPENS'' Medium sized, bold font is used for a caption. This is followed by a cut in, point of view shot, where we see a delicate child like hand placed upon a book illustrated with a fairy picture and fine border. This again emphasizes the genre of the film. I think that the lighting in this shot is particularly interesting as the left hand side of the book is tilted and therefore slightly shadowed, which focuses the readers initial intention onto the illustrations of the book.
(00:17) A mid-length body shot is used as we finally see the child in daylight. Her attention is on the book we just saw which creates a significant part for her character and the book within the movie. The time period of the movie is again portrayed by her costume which is a vintage pinafore dress and she is wearing a headband with a bow in her hair which is also evidence of her young age. The setting is again the forest we saw in the very first shot.
The audience are shown a variety of shots in just two distinctive settings in 17 seconds and are aware that both will play a significant part within the film. The house becomes life in the ordinary world to Ofelia, (the child), whilst the forest becomes her escapism from her cruel and sadistic stepfather (the soldier in the second shot). Within the forest, she finds a tree which becomes her passage through to an underground kingdom complete with mythical creatures.
(00:018) Another medium shot with a caption follows this, with the same font and background as the previous caption. ''WHEN MAKE BELIEVE'' This confirms the audiences initial ideas of the genre of the film.
(00:20) The notes of the piano begin to descend with a higher tempo. An establishing shot is used of the forest setting, Ofelia is in the centre of the shot. Her back is facing the camera and we watch her move towards a large tree which dominates the shot. The lighting is daylight, although the sun is not shining brightly through the thick forest trees. I particularly like the lighting of this shot as the audiences initial impressions are that it is twilight, another technique which significantly emphasizes the genre of the film, a Gothic fairytale. The shot lasts for just three seconds, as the audience sees Ofelia move carefully towards the tree (away from the camera). Ofelia's steps are in perfect synchronization with the descending notes of the piano, which cleverly entrances the audiences attention.
(00:23) ''BELIEVES ITS REAL?'' Again the same font and background. Each caption is kept short and precise, still revealing an engaging yet teasing snippet of the films storyline. No speech has been used yet and the silence of the trailer along with the music create a lot of tension for the audience. A rhetorical question is used so that the audience subconsciously begins to crave a more in depth knowledge of the mysterious storyline and the shot is held for longer than any previous ones as the question begins to linger in the audiences mind. The music changes here and hangs on just one note which is again a technique to build up the tension in the trailer.
(00:27) The note which has been held begins to fade as does the shot. It fades to a long shot of Ofelia, whose back is still towards the camera. The setting is a mystery as it is in complete darkness which contrasts with the previous natural lighting in the shot of Ofelia walking towards the tree. The audience knows enough that she is no longer in the forest. Tracking is used as Ofelia curiously walks towards the unknown. Sound effects are used to create a sound of powerful wind blowing, indicating that Ofelia is outside, these effects are used to emphasize the outdoor setting and create a gloomy, Gothic environment. The lighting is brought back to the shot, although it is now clear to the audience that Ofelia has passed through into another world. The lighting is dim, possibly moonlight and the scenery is cold, dark and extraordinary.
(00:32) The shot becomes focused on a unidentifiable object, as Ofelia (to the right-hand side of the shot) wanders deeper into the unknown.
(00:33) The music dramatically changes as an abnormal fairy like creature flies into the shot from the left hand side. The sudden change of music alerts the audiences attention to this significant part in the teaser. The close up shot of this creature is blurred and unfocused, making the audience's concentration become more pronounced. The music continues again on the lasting note, which is chilling and strained and adds to the emotional climax of the audience.
(00:34) The shot comes into focus implicitly indicating an approaching change to the audience. The music suddenly drops again, as the object the fairy creature is lingering by turns suddenly and two mythical circular blue eyes turn out towards the camera. The shot only lasts for a second, enough for the audience to see the dark mythical creatures that contradict those within a fairytale and indulge their interest into the film. The film is slowly introducing the gothic elements of the film which challenge the typical conventions of a fairytale.
(00:40) The music is deeper and faster, strong drums accompany a black screen as the tension comes to the dramatic climax of the trailer. A medium shot is used to show the mythical creature, which is a horrific and chilling site, directly opposite Ofelia, who stands their as entranced as the audience towards this creature. The lighting is dark, with a circle of moonlight shining down near Ofelia. The shot is in the same ghoulish area we saw Ofelia enter and lasts for just over a second, using tracking to show the creature begin to stride towards Ofelia.
(00:41) The first close up of Ofelia the audience sees, she is on her hands and knees, a large beetle is crawling up her bare arm. Her head turns down to the site of the repulsive bug crawling up her arm and her expression mirrors her fear. Sunlight is shining from the right hand of the shot, the direct Ofelia is crawling. Little of the setting is made clear to the audience, although the sunlight highlights several roots and vines which indicates that she is still in the magical forest.
(00:42) Again another quick movement is made. A point of view shot follows this, and an extreme close up shows a pair of black gloved hands (presumably male) unlocking a large black Victorian lock with a key. Throughout these shots the music has become sinister, speeding up constantly, it is dark and also quite classical music with a tenor group chanting alongside the drums. During this shot the audience clearly hears the clicking of the lock unlocking as he turns the key, again in perfect synchronization with the sound effect.
(00:43) Another medium shot is used again with Ofelia moving away from the camera through large double wooden doors. Her clothing looks like nightwear, and the setting indicates that we are at her home. I like the idea of the shots which follow Ofelia as they create the illusion that the audience are travelling with her through the adventure.
The camera zooms in towards Ofelia as she begins to open the doors and then blacks out.
(00:44) An establishing shot is used of Ofelia in a room. The lighting is just that of outside and the right hand side of the room is partially obscured for the audience. The furniture creates an unsettling and dreary setting for the audience. (Ofelia is banished to the attic by her stepfather, (the soldier) after her mother dies at childbirth.) Her clothing has become more worn and her hair appears less groomed. This implicitly portrays to the audience how her life has become a nightmare since she discovered
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