Film Review.

Rating: 9/10 (2 January 2018)

The audience is introduced to Ofelia & her mother. Ofelia is intrigued by 'Fairy tales' and the Fae, and she often tells her brother in the womb fairy tales to calm him s her mother is depicted to be very ill and weak due to pregnancy. Later the audience see a fairy lead Ofelia to meet Pan, a Faun, this is where she is introduced to her true fate and is given the book to begin her three quests to prove her essence is still in tact and that she has not become a mere mortal.
In reference to Michael Halliday's functions, the ideational is represented amazingly throughout this piece of cinematography. In terms of mise-en-sense the scenery of the production brings reality and life to the film. The blue tints reflected during cold scenes, as seen in figure... help the audience to understand the emotions they should be feeling towards the character and also help the audience to feel as though they are part of the story being narrated. Contrastingly the use of strong prominent colours such as red and orange, as seen in figure... during danger scenes also help create the intensity and the threat of the events unfolding - again encouraging the audience to feel as though they are part of the narrative. The use of Spanish throughout the film makes the historical context of the film a strong presence and a constant reminder to the audience that the film was placed during the Spanish Civil war - constantly reminding them of the horror in the real world.
The composition of the cinematography helps build intertextuality with the audience. The use of long shots helps the audience distance themselves from the danger and intensifies what is going on during the events of the scene, this can be seen in figure... The use of low shots also helps intensify the horror and threat of certain characters, this can mainly been seen through the use of Pale Man's character. Ultimately the composition of the camera angle helps the audience to distinguish the different emotions to be felt among different characters and situations.
Del Toro does an amazing justice to incorporating the real and the fantasy throughout the film. The abuse that Ofelia receives not only from her step-farther Captain Vidal, but also the threat of the Pale Man helps create sympathy and empathy from the audience. However the presentation of characters such as Ofelia and Maribel Verdu portrays how females can be strong and domineering - especially during a time such as the Spanish Civil war.
In conclusion this piece of cinematography is beautifully accomplished. Achieving empathy, attention and suspension that is sought by the audience. The film itself gives a accurate representation into the hardship that is faced during the war and how fantasy and make believe can create the most magical adventure in such a dark era. Del Toros ability to take all things childish and make-believe and mould them into a master piece that can be enjoyed by adults is genius. Pans Labyrinth should go down as one of the greatest pieces of cinematography in film.