Ofelia is standing infront of the start of her journey into the fantasy world.In the film Pan's Labyrith by del Toro, we are taken into two very different but, overlapping world's. The first is the real world, post Spanish Civil War and Ofelia's fantasy world of the faun's labyrith. These two world's are separated in the begining of the movie but as it proceeds these two world's become intermingled. This becomes prominent as del Toro uses a variety of camera angles and transitions in his film. With the use of these transitions and camera angles it is easy for the viewer to follow along with the changes in scenes. Smith finds the easy transition del Toro makes right in the first scence. Smith states, " What is clear from this opening sequence is an extraordinary fluidity of movement between fantasy and reality" (Smith 5). This fluidity allows the real world and the fantasy world to interact in such a way that they begin to feed off of one another until there is little difference between the two worlds. Ofelia's fantasy has now become a reality.
In Pan's Labyrith, there is also a change in the roles that the women of the movie fill. Edwards discusses these changing roles, especially Ofelia in his article. " Ofelia begins her quest as an equally defiant heroine an iconoclastic adventurer, but her position is paradoxically diminished by the close of the film" ( Edwards 145 ). Ofelia's changing roles can be seen when her mother dies giving birth to Ofelia's brother. She is now surrendered to the role as acting as a mother figure to her newborn brother. Ofelia's passive role as a women is furthered when the movie is nearing an end. She refuses to shed the blood of her brother, and ultimentaly sacrifices herself in his place. " Like her Shakespearean namesake Ofelia becomes the pawn, the sacrifice, the paraclet. Even her return 'home' beyone death is problematic: her underland, where children have power and females are action heros, has been usurped by yet another god-like and dictatorial adult male" (Edwards 146). 
Ofelia's role as a strong heroine quickly changes into the passive roles that femals often portray.
I agree with you on del Toro's use of camera angles. One thing that I found interesting throughout the movie was the use of color as well. The real world was so dark, while the fantasy world thrived with colors. Even when Ofelia was at the Pale Man's feast, in a dangerous situation, it was colorful. Her unwillingness to give up her brother shows how she has grown throughout the film. Her brother was the only piece of her mother that she had left, and she was not going to give it up. In the end she made the ultimate sacrifice without knowing it, herself.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy the points you brought up about the fluidity in the usage of camera angles, as well as talking about Ofelia's changing roles as a feminine character. I do however feel as thought you relied too much on in-text quotations. I feel as though you should have given more of your own opinions instead of relying upon the articles we read.
ReplyDeleteI liked how you expanded on the use of camera angles and camera movement that del Toro utilizes to tell the story. I thought that was a good opportunity to examine how the director wanted to portray the fantasy world through Ofelia's eyes compared to the rest of the characters.
ReplyDeleteGood job on the post, I especially like your discussion of Ofelia's sacrifice in the end and the blurring of boundaries in the settings. I do think you could have looked at other symbolism however as the post goes by very quickly. Furthermore, capturing imagery besides Ofelia would be helpful and I think this post would gain more traction.
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