How are the key elements of film form used to construct representations in this scene and how do they contribute to/help to construct the film's messages regarding representations of gender?

In this scene in Pan's Labyrinth, Del Toro visualises to the audience the representation of gender through the characters, Vidal and Mercedes. He does this through the micro-elements of cinematography, miss-en-scene, editing and sound.




The sound in the film sends our emotions on a rollercoaster. It forebodes for us that something is about to happen in the scene. For example, when Vidal is showing the tools he is going to use to interrogate Mercedes, a sound effect is used to intensify the scene. He lifts up a hammer and an eerie stereotypical non-diegetic sound effect you would hear in your typical horror film (i.e. Psycho) can be heard. This makes the audience feel very uncomfortable and emphasises Vidal's detrimental side. We are inevitably made to empathise with Mercedes who feels powerless at the beginning of the scene. But as the scene progresses there is a complete power shift and the music supports this change. When Mercedes escapes from the rope and stabs Vidal in the shoulder, quiet non-diegetic music is played to visualise her retaliation and her exasperation she is feeling and this in turn gives the audience supportive exhilaration towards her. We are routing for her. This shows that despite being completely weak and fatigued, Mercedes, who represents women, shows how fearless they are and how they do not get overpowered by the men. The exaggerated diegetic sound effect used when Mercedes is sheathing Vidal's cheek further creates suspense and shows her sheer physical and mental strength she withholds and she's not frightened to use it. It has been made visible throughout the film and the audience has been able to captivate onto it but this is the first time she has brought it into action. This difference in power reflects on this petrifying idea of fascism and how everyone below the fascists, (women) were deteriorating mentally when exposed to their dominance. But the film shows that there was an exception to the rule and many people concealed their hate towards the extremists but Mercedes puts into perspective what everyone who opposed fascism at the time, wanted to do.

The editing in this scene compliments and corresponds to the frequent change in sound. The scene begins with a continued shot this means we are able to embrace and focus on the scene. The audience feels empathy towards Mercedes through the editing as Vidal has our full concentration, he is overpowering us as well as Mercedes. It also slows the tempo of the scene down and builds up suspense. Then once danger is imminent, the continued shots are absorbed into continuous cuts which fastens the pace of the scene. We scrutinise Mercedes emotions as the fast transitions once she escapes could reflect on the fact that her heart is racing. Furthermore, the rapidity exemplifies the determination Mercedes possesses in order for her to escape. This once again links back to the idea that opposition, more importantly women who opposed the fascists, did not lose confidence when being overpowered. If anything it restored their confidence and they were determined to get their own back and take revenge over the men who dominated them.






The mise-en-scene has powerful implications when constructing character representation and regarding representations of gender. At the beginning of the scene when the guard is tying up Mercedes and Vidal orders him to leave, he undoes his buttons from his shirt. He is conveying he's relaxed and is not threatened in the slightest by Mercedes. The audience's instinct when he does this is to look away in horror because they think he is going to sexually abuse her. We feel helpless towards Mercedes. Then Vidal approaches the hammer and if he didn't have the power already, he further consolidated it when he shows this weapon to us and Mercedes. By this point, we feel a strong sense of inhumane disgust towards Vidal but this is overruled by our frightfulness towards him. This is metaphorically implying how Vidal is going to "crush" communism and this links back to the ideology of Fascism, which is to exterminate all forms of communism across the world. The colors visualized to the audience include grey and blue. This creates a very dull and gloomy atmosphere and corresponds very powerfully with the music as it suggests danger is looming. Moreover, the colors compliment characters emotions. This gloominess is first felt by Mercedes when she's trapped and then passed to Vidal when he is stabbed.





Finally, it is through cinematography that we are able to establish who has the power and how the proportion of power between the two characters changes throughout the scene. The scene starts off with a high angle of Vidal whenever he is in shot and a low angle when Mercedes. Del Toro is clearly demonstrating to the audience here that Vidal has caused an imbalance of power and he's the one who holds the majority. It is a saddening image and is highlighting the feebleness Mercedes is feeling.  The portraying of power is also seen through the way the camera is framed around the two characters throughout but focuses on the person who has seen to have more power. There is also a spotlight created by the natural light coming through the windows which is placed upon Vidal, showing this idea that Vidal is so powerful that mother nature is even controlled by him. When eventually Mercedes escapes and stabs Vidal, we see it from a low angle and Mercedes stands over him. The audience are exposed to Mercedes' emotions as they are taken aback with relief and a slight sense of exuberance is felt amongst us. Mercedes' frustration has finally paid off and she is now in control of the power.





In terms of representation of characters and gender in this scene, Mercedes, starts off as the weaker character out of the two. Vidal has used his status throughout the film in order to establish his power. It is through the sound especially that we are able to not just understand the dominance Vidal has over Mercedes but it increases the intensity and guides us into how we should approach the scene as a whole and how we should base our opinion on each character.