The Use of Cinematography and Sound in a Five Minute Sequence in 'Pans Labyrinth'

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An analysis of sound and cinematography used in a five minute sequence from Guillermo del Toro's Pan's Labyrinth The use of micro features in a film is vital to heightening mood and atmosphere and receiving the desired response from the audience. Pan's Labyrinth uses classic examples of the most effective micro features to engage the audience in its fantastical, haunting and quite often horrific story. Ofelia, the protagonist, is given a number of challenges to complete throughout the film; the scene in which she undertakes the task to steal the golden dagger from the lair of a mythical monster is certainly very effective in heightening our emotional involvement in the story. The spectator is immediately aware that it is night time; dim lighting in Ofelia's bedroom is used to emphasise the danger of the task that she is about to attempt, and reminds us that she is alone and vulnerable, in reality as well in her fictional world. The room would be silent if it weren't for the quiet, diegetic sound of Ofelia scratching the door on the stone wall with the magic chalk. Once the door opens, a medium shot of Ofelia from inside the tunnel dissolves into an extreme long shot positioned further backward through the chamber, revealing the size and beauty of it to the spectator. It also suggests the worrying enormity of the task ahead, reinforcing her powerlessness when she steps inside. We then see a close-up of the hour glass and are aware of the diegetic sound of the sand trickling through, highlighting the fact that Ofelia has a limited amount of time, and must return with the golden dagger before the last grain of sand falls. A non-diegetic sound of haunting music is heard, forecasting an unpleasant visit into the lair. The diegetic sounds that are heard as Ofelia walks down the corridor are very organic, bodily noises, almost as if she is walking within the body of
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