Director
Guillermo del Toro
Leading Actors/Actresses
Ivana Baquero, Sergi López
Supporting Actors/Actresses
Maribel Verdú. Doug Jones, and Ariadna Gil
Genre
Fantasy, Horror, History
Language
Spanish
Awards
Pan's Labyrinth was nominated for six Academy Awards including: Best Original Screenplay for del Toro, Best Original Score, Best Foreign Language Film for Mexico, Best Cinematography (which it won), Best Art Direction (which it also won), and Best Makeup (which it won).
Date of Release
20 October 2006
Producer
Guillermo del Toro, Bertha Navarro, Alfonso Cuarón, Frida Torresblanco, and Alvaro Augustin
Setting and Context
1944, Spain.
Narrator and Point of View
The film is mainly told through the point of view of Ofelia, but also shifts around to more omniscient perspectives. The faun is its narrator.
Tone and Mood
Magical, Mystical, Fantastical, Dark, and Mysterious
Protagonist and Antagonist
Ofelia (Protagonist) vs. Captain Vidal (Antagonist)
Major Conflict
The major conflict of the film involves Ofelia's struggle to complete the three tasks set out by the faun, all while eluding Captain Vidal and enduring his abuse.
Climax
The climax occurs when Vidal shoots Ofelia and her blood spills, transporting her back to her throne as princess of the underworld.
Foreshadowing
Vidal's taking care with his watch foreshadows his eventual death.
Understatement
The extent of Ofelia's troubles and struggles (in completing the tasks, especially) are understated in the film.
Innovations in Filming or Lighting or Camera Techniques
Allusions
The films alludes to history (e.g., WWII, the Fraco-led rebellion), the Bible, mythology, fairy tales.
Paradox
Carmen does not believe in the fairy tale magic that is keeping her alive. Also, Ofelia dies in the real world, but in dying, is returned to her rightful place as the princess of the underworld.
Parallelism
The fantasy world and the real world are presented as parallels of one another.
