Pans Labyrinth Analysis Clip 3
In the sequence from Pans Labyrinth, where Ophelia is walking through the forest and the mise en scène of her wearing a white and green dress holding a book, can be a direct reference to Alice and Wonderland. We can see this in a tracking mid-shot from the waist up, showing simplicity with focusing on Ophelia reading the book while walking into the forest.
Which follows with match on action of the horses moving through the forest with it being a tracking long-shot of the horse moving through the trees to cutting to a shot further away to show more horses in the area. The mise en scene of the lighting in the sequence with Ophelia and then the horses, have a lot of high-key lighting due to them filming during the day. Such as the horses flying past the shot, we can see an excessive amount of back-lighting shining between the gaps of trees. Which can make the darker subject seem more prominent in the shot.
The colours between the long shots of the horses and Ophelia in the forest, have a distinctive comparison to nature, due to the prominent colours of greens, browns and yellows. This gives a more beautiful look to the shots, as fantasy films have a stunning aspect to the visuals. The use of editing in this sequence, makes the flow of it smooth. With the use of invisible editing. For example, the transition of the camera panning across the tree, following with the next tracking shot of the camera leaving the tree to reveal Ophelia walking in the frets. The use of this makes you think less of the editing and makes you more engaged in what's going on because its different points from other characters in the same location, whilst still using the same amount of lighting as before and sticking to the natured look.
The mise en scene of the dirty shoes with a close up of them meaning
that they're an issue as they were gifted by her mother and she ha snow gone against her mother by keeping them clean. Which can end up with her mother being upset. This shows the length that Ophelia will go to for completing her quest with her ending up ruining things. The reference towards this shot can be linked to Alice and Wonderland and also The Wizard of Oz - two very well known fairytale films, Guillermo del Toro's approach to this was to give links between the fairytale franchise to show the importance of the shoes which can have a deeper meaning towards the characters.
With the following tracking long-shot of Ophelia walking up to an unusual shaped tree, which is shaped like the fauns horns. The mise en scène can reference towards a gateway to the world of magic, by using the faun shaped tree to show that signs of supernatural can be in the most obvious places. The director wanted to show theres not much difference from both worlds. Whereas besides the shape of the fauns horns, the shape of the tree is the shape of the woman vagina, can link to the vast idea of birth throughout the film from her mother struggling to the idea of the birth of her life to magic.
In this shot the mise en scene presents a warm tone towards the atmosphere due to the orange colours in the scene which can show the presence of fire, which ends up with it emitting warmth. The forward tracking shot of Ophelia crawling is taking us with her on the quest she is up-taking.
