How significant is representation in constructing national cinema in the two films you have studied?

In the films Pan's Labyrinth and La Haine, representation is a prominent aspect within MACRO. In Pan's Labyrinth we see representation through gender and psycho-analysis. This definitely emphasises that the film is national cinema. Similarly, in La Haine gender is also prominently represented, as well as ethnicity and class. This, once again, portrays that the film is national cinema.


Even at first glance of the film Pan's Labyrinth, we understand that it tackles fascism and therefore male control and oppression over women. This too, is existing in La Haine. One way in which Pan's Labyrinth conveys it's messages and values through representation is through psycho-analysis, from this, the film challenges the dominant ideologies of it's country.
Pan's Labyrinth uses symbolism of the womb throughout the course of the film. In my opinion, this is to represent the menstrual cycle. The film could be using this symbolism to portray the impact that war has upon a young girl. Ofelia is young mentally and physically, however, the danger and violence that she experiences first hand of the war, makes Ofelia mature both physically and mentally. I believe that the symbolism of the menstrual cycle and the womb, symbolises Ofelia's damage and early maturity due to the war physically stealing her childhood. This could be seen as an aspect of national cinema as it challenges the dominant views of Spain during this period. Fascism oppresses women and therefore the fact that Ofelia is being forced to mature early, is not overlooked in this film, reinforces the idea of national cinema.
We see many aspects of the menstrual cycle throughout the film that hint to this. The first of which is the moon-shaped birthmark on Ofelia's shoulder. The birthmark may have been used to symbolise the menstrual cycle, as spiritually it controls the female cycle. This then links to the symbolism of 3. Throughout the film, what occurs, comes in three. For example, the three tasks that Ofelia must complete, the three, the three stones for the toad, the three doors that Ofelia must choose to unlock in the Pale Man's lair and the three people within Ofelia's blood-related family. Linking back to my last point, the symbolism of three could be a representation of spirituality  Here, the symbolism of three represented the sun, the moon and mars. This could link to the menstrual cycle and the idea of maturing once again due to the moon, which controls the menstrual cycle. 'Mars' could also refer to a Greek meaning, being the God of War. These two, in combination with each other could link to the idea of Ofelia being mentally and physically forced to mature (represented through the moon) due to the effects of war (represented through mars). However, arguably, the symbolism of three within Pan's Labyrinth could also be a biblical reference. This would therefore link to the film being national cinema as through this perspective, it challenges the dominant ideas of this country and time. Through a religious reference, the symbolism of three could refer to the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. By doing this, Del Toro is challenging the dominant ideas of this time and reinforcing national cinema; the Catholic church was involved in the fascist movement.

Similarly, in La Haine, symbolism of three is also prominent. We see this symbolism of three through the French motto of Liberty, equality, fraternity and the three protagonists that the narrative follows. La Haine's reasons for this representation may be somewhat contrasting to Pan's Labyrinth. I believe that the director of La Haine has used the symbolism of three to convey that these ethnic minorities are trapped in a vicious circle. By using three as a point of symbolism, it could furthermore symbolise the vicious cycle, therefore, being no route of escape for the boys.
Continuing on, the French motto Liberty, equality, fraternity contributes to the film becoming national cinema. La Haine coherently subverts this motto by shedding light on the fact that within these ethnic minorities  the motto does not exist. Therefore, this subversion challenges the typical views of France and results in the film becoming national cinema.

Continuing with Pan's Labyrinth, the representation of religion grows stronger as the film develops. Not only could we view the symbolism of three through a religious perspective, and that Del Toro is challenging the role of the Church within fascism. In Ofelia's second task, we see her eating a grape that she has been told not to touch or eat. This could be a direct reference to the bible, as Eve ate the apple that she had been forbidden from. As a result of this, Eve gets her period. This is heavily represented in Pan's Labyrinth. The Church was heavily involved with fascism in Spain, therefore, Pan's Labyrinth subverts the dominant ideologies fo Fascist Spain at this time, making the film national cinema.

La Haine and Pan's Labyrinth are both similar through their representation of women and due to these factors, the films become a part of national cinema.
La Haine does not incorporate any female protagonists, or any female character with any importance for that matter. The fact that La Haine is filmed in a world dominated by men, and is therefore dominated by men through it's screenplay and cast, portrays the context and reality of France.  It portrays to the audience that women had no say and contribution. This is portrayed through the film, as non of the female characters have a say or contribution to driving and developing the narrative. The only female characters that we see in the film are stereotyped and viewed as merely a sex object. This therefore conveys their position in French society. Although the narrative physically overlooks the importance of women, because of this, the audience become aware of French society ignoring and overlooking women's positioning in society. Therefore due to this factor, the film once again, challenges the dominant ideologies of France and furthermore incorporates national cinema.

This is similar in Pan's Labyrinth. Although the protagonist is female, because of this, we see, first had the oppression and lack of choice and say that she has under the fascist government and male power and control. A significant character that represents women's position in society in Spain, is Ofelia's mother, Carmen. Once Carmen is met with Vidal, we see the male control and fascist take over and remove her from her power and control. We see Vidal instructing Carmen to sit in the wheelchair, even though she can stand capably. Although Carmen does not want to, she is forced to do so and from here on, she loses all say and control over her position. This is an example of how the film conforms to national cinema. During this time, women would have been overlooked, therefore to simple acknowledge this, challenges the typical ideologies of this time,, a convention of national cinema.

Representation

How are the police represented in relation to what we know about the Prime Minister and President of France at this time? 

Young men from ethnic mini routines are the main social got up represented in la haine. There is a young black male protagonist (Hubert). 

The representations of young black males are life affirming and positive. However other characters confirm the more negative stereotypes of youths from ethnic minorities. Hubert is a drug dealer. 

Representation

The above image of the moon shaped birth mark could symbolise the meaning of the film; that this is about Ofelia getting her period. The fact that Ofelia is young, could portray that she is being made to grow up psychically and mentally due to the war.  There is also much symbolism and representation of the shape of the womb.

The forbidden fruit (grape) relates to a religious aspect of Eve and the forbidden fruit, because she disobeyed this, Eve got her period, this therefore is represented in Pan's.

= Becoming a woman 

Meaning: A woman having power in a patriarchal world will not work 

http://www.whats-your-sign.com/spiritual-meaning-of-numbers.html

Symbolism of 3:

Spiritual:
1. sun
2. moon - Ofelia fails her second task
3. mars - mars is the God of war, which the film is about

Religious:
Father
Son
Holy Ghost


Yonic imagery/nature = destroyed - male power/fascism is destructive and killing
Killing nature. Where life can grow and thrive, it is destroyed
The structure of the film is also circular as that of a menstrual cycle

http://www.slideshare.net/tmichelsdesign/color-in-movies-15023493

http://www.robertmills.me/colour-and-storytelling-in-films/

Pans Labyrinth

Starts and ends with offload death 

No lies or pain in the labyrinth 

She forgot who she was and where she came from - contexts 

As soon as ofelia reaches the camp she Begins hallucinations. 

The bug- the underworld is spying on the realist. 

The chair Carmen is put in due to her pregnancy disables her independence; as a woman she has no say. 

Ofelia instantly runs after the bug, into her hallucinations 

Mercedes warns ofelia not to go into the labyrinth she could get lost - foreshadowing what is to happen; lost in her own state of mind leading to her death 

Ofelia steals a bottle of medicine from Dr. 

The engravement on the head board symbolises a womb or the faun 

The rose in the story ofelia tells could represent or be a metaphor for the labyrinth. The underworld being beautiful like that of the rose and the thorns that protect it being the tasks she must complete. 

Kills farmer/rebels the first is young and innocent not far from ofelias age. 

Sees the bug as a fairy. Are the hallucinations real and she interprets them differently?

The moon that borned ofelia- the birth mark 

Clogs in vidals room resemble the clock

Womb figure that emerges in the book ; womb of the pale man key. 

Mercedes always warning ofelia: my mother warned me to be careful of fauns. 

Olives, bacon etc - Vidal. 

Alice in wonderland dress portraying her innocence. 

Tree resembles the womb 

Whenever Vidal is in the shot, the lighting is brighter whereas it is dark when ofelia is in the shot.  

Bottle of medicine left behind by rebels. 

Fat toad is a metaphor of gluteny. The toad could be a metaphor of fascism, once ofelia feeds it, the toad regurgitates itself and dies. The key lies in the mess it leaves behind. This could symbolise the key to equality is with the death of fascism. 

Vidals dinner / feast symbolises the pale man 

These people are mistake and hold the belief that we are all equal. There's a big difference: the war is over and we won and if we need to kill everyone of these vermin to settle it, then we will kill them all - Vidal 

Vidals father smashes his watch do Vidal would know exact time of his death. How a brave man dies. 

The hallucinations only exist in the absence of other characters. When the mother is a sleep etc 

Faun gets younger

There's not a single home without fire or bread- portraying fascism with a brave face

The bloodstain womb shape in the book foreshadows ofelias mothers death. 

Mercedes becomes her mother figure. 

Mandrake root: the plant that dreamt of being human. 

Red food on pale mans table

Images of the pale man killing children. 

Pale man representing fascist greed

Opens lock and gets dagger, faun / womb shaped handle

Takes grape; distorted biblical reference 

Focus on the bottle of medicine

Vidal can see mandrake plant. Are these really hallucinations? 

As the mandrake plant dies her mother collapses in pain. Is the mandrake a metaphor for the brother? 

Ofelia takes bottle of medicine when packing up her things 

Vidal is stabbed in the back by Mercedes both metaphorically and literally 

Uses medicine to kill Vidal

Vidal runs after ofelia as she has stolen her brother. 

It is finally confirmed that ofelia is having hallucinations as we see through Vidals POV her speaking to nothing whereas in her eyes she is pleading for her brothers life to their faun. 

Vidal takes baby away and shoots ofelia. Both have killed each other. 

Vidal returns from the labyrinth and gives Mercedes his son. Looks at his watch. He tries to pass down te watch and its story to his son by telling Mercedes tell my son. She says no and finally gets a voice in the film. Vidal is shot. Vidal, throughout the film tried to die nobally like his father but this was denied of him. 

Ofelia lay o the edge of the underworld, the centre of the labyrinth. 

Mercedes hums the lullaby as ofelia dies incorporating the fairytale aspect into the last section of the realism narrative that we see. 

At this point light is shed on ofelia for the first time in the film. Surrounding her is a golden palace and she is dressed in red. It is only within this narrative that we gain a positive resolution and equilibrium state. At this point she is finally met with her father once again. Both her parents sit on throwns, the third absent for ofelia. This is similiar to the image in the book of the three keys. However the peaceful image of ofelia in her underworld fades to the image of he death. Portraying to the audience the realism of war, that in reality their is no peaceful resolution 

Symbolism of all things in 3:

Family

Doors to unlock in pale man

3 tasks to complete

3 stones for the toad

Symbolism of the womb/ rebirthing:

Tree

Blood stain on the book

Handle of the dagger

Fauns horns

Inprint on the backboard of the be where her mother lay

Trying to birth the mandrake plant

"Narrative plays a significant role in communicating messages andvalues." To what extent is this evident in the films you have studied?[50 marks]

By studying both La Haine, Mathieu Kassovitz, 1995 and Pan's Labyrinth, Guillermo del Toro, 2006. I can understand that narrative helps to convey the message and values of the films.
Pan's Labyrinth is set in 1944, Spain, just after the Spanish Civil War. Spain is repressed by the Facist government, lead by Franco. Throughout the film, the oppression and conflict is conveyed by two main characters of opposing sides; Vidal and Mercedes/Mercedes' brother (the resistance).
A repressed state also exists in La Haine. We understand that there is conflict and oppression between two main groups; the government, agents of social control and middle class white Frenchmen vs. immigrants of a working class background.
Both films begin and end with an inflicted murder of an innocent. Pan's Labyrinth begins and ends with Ofelia's death. Ofelia is a very young girl who is damaged by the violent realism of the war and conflict that surrounds her. La Haine also begins and ends with a death, however this varies to Pan's Labyrinth as it is the murder of two different men; Abdel; whom we never actually meet, and Vinz;  a jewish boy who is 'accidentally' shot, both by members of the police. Therefore, Pan's Labyrinth and La Haine begin and end with a death; this incorporates a circular structure into the film, which therefore portrays the messages of the films; that this violent oppression is ongoing and reoccurring and that political change must occur in order for change.

Both films subvert the typical Hollywood narrative. By doing so, this makes the messages and values of the films more prominent and realistic. Both films are based in a historical period, therefore if the films were to adopt a classic Hollywood narrative, it would divert the audience away from the actual message(s) of the films. One way in which the films dismiss a classic Hollywood narrative is by not incorporating Torodov's Equilibrium Theory. Both Pan's Labyrinth and La Haine avoid the stereotypical state of equilibrium; at no one point do either of the films begin with the state of equilibrium. There is disruption throughout and no peaceful resolution. However, one may argue that, although subversively, Pan's Labyrinth does include the Equilibrium theory. We realise that Ofelia's equilibrium exists during her backstory with her father, and that this equilibrium is disrupted by the Fascists, (Vidal), who results in her death. Both the fairytale and realism war narrative is resolved; Ofelia being accepted into the underworld in the fairytale side of the story. However, the realism narrative is only resolved at the expense of Ofelia's death, caused by Vidal.
This however, juxtaposes with La Haine's structural narrative. Although the film also ends with a death, it is not at the expense of a resolution, as we soon see real footage of riots, this conveys that the oppression again is ongoing.

Because both of the films are based in historical events, we understand that the oppression and conflict is ongoing after the protagonist's deaths; that they were merely a symbol of the oppression, violence and conflict; their deaths did not cause the situation to come to an end. 

La Haine, however does follow some aspects of a Hollywood narrative by conforming to the cause and effect and character driven/ pyschological motivation. We understand at the beginning of the film, that the three boys have personal anger against the police, not just for their own oppression, but because their friend, Abdel has been shot by a policeman 'accidentally'. This results in the cause of the film as well as the character driven, pyschological motivation. Once the three boys find out that Abdel has died, Vinz, who vows to kill the policeman with the gun he found, finds that he cannot once he is given the opportunity. This then results in the main effect of the film; Vinz does not gain any good karma from this, resulting in a further effect of the film that is his death. This highlights the the audience the level of realism that exists in the film.  The cause and effect as well as the character driven motivation conveys he messages of the film. Intertwined with realism, it shows the lack of emotion and sympathy the oppressors show towards the oppressed group. We see Vinz's character develop into a mature, forgiving character towards the end of the film, compared to the hard, 'bad boy' persona he took on during the beginning. This helps the audience to sympathise and relate to the character of Vinz more as they have seen this development, however his sudden, unforgiving death reinforces the realism of the film, highlighting the message of oppression; to not be submissive and passive as this will not result in political change. 

Pan's Labyrinth takes a slightly different approach when analysing the use of cause and effect and character driven, pyschological motivation. If we view the film with two separate narratives, the realist narrative and the mysterical fairytale narrative, we the audience can understand this more clearly. Through the realist narrative, Ofelia is oppressed and does not have a say, therefore she does not have impact on cause and effect of the film, because of this she has no psychological motivation in the narrative. However, when she begins to have hallucinations we see her pyschological motivation develop which results in cause and effect. Once Ofelia is met with the Faun, she is told she must complete three tasks in order to gain her place as princess of the Labyrinth. This therefore is her focus in the rest of the film, which becomes her pyschological motivation. This results in Ofelia gaining a reason and voice, which becomes the cause of the film, this results in the main effects of the film; Ofelia's death. 

In my opinion, the way the cause and effect and pyschological motivation has been incorporated into this film in this way is to convey Ofelia's position in this fascist oppressive society, therefore conveying the message of the film, the effects of war and violence upon children. 

Pan's Labyrinth also subverts the stereotypical conventions of a war film, not only by incorporating the hallucinogenic fairytale aspect, but also because it follows an innocent child as it's protagonist. This, alongside the fairytale aspect portrays one of the messages of the film; the impact of war upon children and the idea of escapism.

Both Pan's Labyrinth and La Haine subvert the conventions of a classic Hollywood narrative in order to convey the messages of the film; the impact of war or violent oppression on youths and to not be passive if you want political change.




























http://www.ocr.org.uk/Images/82300-unit-f633-global-cinema-and-critical-perspectives-specimen.pdf

Context

The film distorts Christain aspects and symbolism as the Catholic church was in supporting for the Fascist government

Narrative is significant in conveying the messages and values

Pan's Labyrinth:

Genre and narrative intertwine with each other in Pan's Labyrinth.
A film that incorporates two or more genres is known as a hybrid genre.

The Pale Man is a metaphor of the Fascist Vidal.
The magical narrative symbolises the realist narrative.

Film follows a young girl, Ofelia = purity/innocence : symbolism of Ofelia's innocence, shown through the macro aspect of style.
Once you're in this, you can't get out of it.


La Haine:

Non-linear narrative
Said observing a cycle of conflict
Liberty, equality, fraternity: the characters represent these aspects: Vinz: fraternity bringing them together, Hubert: fraternity; save him from himself, stop the shooting of the cop, Said: trapped in his fraternity.
There is equality and fraternity but no liberty, which is represented through Said.
Style is also relevant/significant in conveying the messages and values; b&w/ documentary style, etc
Once you're in this, you can't get out of it.
 WHAT IS RELEVANT ABOUT THE USE OF THE ASPECTS IN NARRATIVE?

Representation

La Haine 

Representation of women:
-There are no women in the film except the two women in the art gallery, who are merely viewed as a sex object/something to look at and admire
-The fact that there are no main female characters in the film show that women have little say and are oppressed




Pan's Labyrinth

Representation of women:
-3 main female characters who are clearly oppressed and have little say / voice
-Set in a Fascist, patriarchal society
-Representations of the female body; the tree symbolises the shape of the womb, and the blank book that Ofelia reads which bleeds blood also resembles of the womb

Religious representations:
-In the second quest, Ofelia must not eat anything from the feast that sits on the table in front of the Pale Man. This could have a biblical representation, like Eve and the forbidden fruit, Ofelia takes the grape from the table.

Mirroring:
-The Pale Man and his feast mirrors Vidal's feast with his friends. The Pale Man is a representation of the oppressive powers; Vidal, the Catholic Church and Spanish Fascism.
-The magical, hallucinative world mirrors the real world

Themes

Narrative

http://vigilantcitizen.com/moviesandtv/the-esoteric-interpretation-of-pans-labyrinth/

http://www.inter-disciplinary.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/martinezpaper.pdf

MARCO

How does narrative create meaning in Pan's Labyrinth?

The film is based in 1944 Fascist Spain, just before the time of the civil war. The protagonist of the film is a young girl named Ofelia, who we realise has hallucinations to escape the reality of the horror of the war around her. Ofelia is sent, along with her pregnant mother, to be with her new stepfather, Vidal, who happens to be a ruthless captain in the Spanish army.
Ofelia's hallucinations begin during the night once she is met with Vidal. She is met with a fairy who takes her to an old faun in the centre of the Labyrinth. She is told she is the princess but to prove her loyalty, she must survive three tasks. If she fails, she will never prove herself as the princess, and never see the king, her father, again.
Amongst Ofelia's hallucinations, the film is also combined with the context of the civil war, to portray the effects of the war upon Ofelia. Violence in the film is inflicted upon the Rebels who hide in the mountains from the falangist troops.

The film does not follow the expectations of a classic Hollywood narrative.
The film does not include the stages of equilibrium. Pan's Labyrinth begins with Ofelia's death, even after this, the film involves conflict throughout, at no one point is there any resolution. The film only shows a slight aspect of resolution however, this encounters Ofelia's death. She is also murdered by Vidal, which portrays that the issues in the film will be ongoing, even after Ofelia's death. I believe that Del Toro has incorporated this into his film to portray one of it's messages; the effect of war upon children. Del Toro has subverted the typical stereotypes of a classic Hollywood narrative to make the effects of the war more prominent and real to the audience, whilst incorporating Ofelia's hallucinations may confuse one at first, it helps to portray the effects of war upon this child. Juxtaposing between war and the fairy-tale hallucination she has escaped into.

The film La Haine does not incorporate the theme of a mystical fairytale, but instead uses much realism to convey it's messages. La Haine is similar to some aspects of Pan's Labyrinth. For example, in my previous point I mentioned that it does not follow the expectations of a classic Hollywood narrative, as does La Haine; both films begin with conflict between to sides or groups, this is most likely used to convey the messages and the conflict within the story more prominently. Both films also end with a death of the protagonists, which is unexpected to the audience. I believe that both Pan's Labyrinth and La Haine have used an unexpected, unresolved death of the protagonist at the end of the films to convey the reality of the messages; that this conflict is unresolved and is still ongoing even after the ending of the film.

I shall elaborate on my previous point of the theme of magical realism and mystical fairytale. This is incorporated heavily into the film, from the beginning to the very end. Meanwhile, the reality side of the film is still ongoing. It is only during the night once Ofelia and her mother have travelled to Vidal; that Ofelia begins to have these hallucinations. We, the audience understand that these characters such as the fairies, the old faun and the pale man can only be seen by Ofelia. Ofelia spends all of her time interacting with these characters; escaping and distracting herself away from the violence and danger she is involved with. I understand that Del Toro has incorporated this into the narrative of the film to portray the effects of war upon children. Stereotypically a war film will deal with solider's and the civilian's impact and effect of war, however this film conveys what it is like for an innocent child. The fact that Ofelia is so young, conveys her innocence, as well as being a young girl.
There is much symbolism and mirroring that is incorporated within the film's narrative. The scene with the Pale Man could symbolise Eve and the forbidden fruit. The bible's version of this incorporates an innocent women who takes an apple, which is the only piece of fruit that is forbidden in the Garden of Eden, when she takes this, it symbolises her innocence of not understanding the consequences, but makes her and all other women suffer as the consequence. Therefore, when Ofelia takes the grape from the table that the Pale Man sits at (the one thing that was forbidden), it too symbolises Ofelia's innocence and arrogance of not understanding consequences. From this point in the film, all worsens for Ofelia, and eventually leads to her death.

The film also opens and closes with the same shot of Ofelia's death. This therefore provides us with a circular structured narrative, which portrays us with one of the messages of the film; that this conflict is ongoing and will keep reoccurring.  Ofelia is murdered by her stepfather, Vidal, creating irony in the film.
This is also similar to La Haine. The film too has a circular structure. The film begins with the riots, that result at the end of the film. The film begins with the possibility of Abdel's death. The film also ends with an ironic death, similar to Pan's Labyrinth. The death in La Haine is ironic because Vinz is shot by a policeman, who he vowed to murder if Abdel did die, however he decided not to, and was murdered himself. This circular structure and unresolved ending is similar to Pan's Labyrinth, portraying that the issue of conflict is ongoing and will not stop after the film ends.

La Haine

Messages:

Can't escape conflict

Government oppression causes inequalities 

Values are everything 

Fraternity, liberty and equality 

Context:

Moola got arrested and policeman "accidentally" shot by police

Front National influenced racial stereotypes and oppression. These were politicians. 

Algerian massacre 

Slavery in France 1718

Banaleu slums 

Pan's Labyrinth

Themes:

Facism

Innocence 

Conflict and power

War: Spanish Civil War

Delusion 

Greed

Famine / poverty 

Oppression 

Legacy 

Family 

Male power/dominated 

Rebellion 

Messages: 

Beliefs don't solve problems : resistance to Facism links to the idea of fate not being avoidable. 

Facism is bad/destructive : it creates conflict between families and communities  : Facism regime of time period

War takes away childhood innocence

How innocence leads to delusion: she creates illusions to get away from the destructiveness of her reality. She becomes enraptured in her own hallucinations to escape.  

Good always wins over evil : internal conflict 

Fate isn't avoidable : people don't talk about it / thousands were forced to leave Spain to join resistance in France. 

Power is corrupting and leads to oppression 

Context relevant to the messages: 

During the period of the civil war people in communities were fighting against each other

Facist regime

Internal conflict at between neighbours and families

People avoid the topic now. 

Isolation and hardship

Thousands forced to flee Spain to join the resistance in France. 

Franco: head of army / war hero: took military with him to overthrow the king 

The church was on this side. The fascists were traditional: the family etc therefore the church sided with them

The Rebels were supplied with weapons from Russia a communist state; power to the people. The USSR. 

A proxy war: like the Cold War. The nazis and communist. Franco was helped by Germany. Brother v brother, two other super powers helping and supplying the opposing. Two wider powers influencing the next. 

Summary of Pan's Labyrinth: How is narrative used to portray the message?

Pan's Labyrinth is a film which juxtaposes the theme of a child's fairytale against the violent Fascist Spanish Civil War. Del Toro explained that this film is a 'fairytale for a grown-up'. He said that he wanted to create something as dangerous and scary as the real war.
Arguably, the film does not incorporate a Classic Hollywood Narrative. Although the film does incorporate several aspects of cause and effect (such as when Ofelia takes the grape, this results in her being chased and almost eaten by the Pale Man. Or when the man cannot finish his sentence due to his stutter, result in his death.) The film also has a beginning middle and end, however the character's psychological motivations, for example Vidal's hatred is not clearly conveyed. There is clear opposition and conflict in the film as this is what drives the narrative, however we see this through many different aspects. For example, the Faun's quests and Ofelia; the toad/pale man. And the general themes of the Spanish Civil War.
Another reason why Pan's is not a Classic Hollywood narrative could be the fact that it does not have a 3 act structure. For example, Torodov's Equilibrium theory, in my opinion, does not apply here. At the beginning and end of the film there is conflict, at no one point in the film is there an element of resolution. The film ends and begins with Ofelia's death, stating the circular structure of the narrative, and hinting that this will occur to many other children.

It is possible that Del Toro has followed the rules of Propp's character types, incorporating a dark macabre theme into a fairytale because he wanted to convey the severity of the Spanish Civil war and it's effects on children. Because Ofelia is a child, enrapt in her own fairytale like hallucinations, this is the main aspect of the film, without this the film would be pretty straight forward and dull, therefore Ofelia's hallucinations (the main aspect of the narrative) convey the effects of war on children; that this girl is obviously harmed by the danger and violence of her surroundings, that she has become tangled into her own hallucinations to escape the reality of the Spanish Civil War.
Children are the future of society, therefore it is possible that Toro has decided to use a child because of this, this portrays how war damages the future of society. Toro may have also used a girl because stereotypically, girls represent innocence and purity, what goes on in her mind juxtaposes this.
The narrative of the film ends and begins with Ofelia's death, resulting in a circular structure. This may have been used to portray another message of the film; that the result of the film is most likely to keep on happening to other children.
Because the film does not follow the classic Hollywood narrative, this may help to portray the message of the film and help to convey the real effects of war. Because the film does not follow Classic Hollywood Narrative is makes the film strangely more realistic once the audience realises that the fairy tale aspects of the film are hallucinations rather than actually there.

City Of God Narrative

Torodov's Equilibrium Theory

Propp's Characters

La Haine: Propp's characters, narrative, themes and the vicious cycle

La Haine has narrative theme and characters which makes the film realistic. There are no Propp characters in this film to make the message more realistic and relevant. The director is trying to portray the social class division in society, therefore the Propp's characters if used here, would distort the film's message. Using fairy tale / Propp characters would distract from the message.

The film does however, use stock characters to some extent. It is important to have at least a small amount of stock characters for the audience to connect / relate to the characters.

• The 'bad boy' - Vinz - Taxi Driver scene. Key scene of Vinz talking into the mirror
• The helper/vigilante - Hubert - the reformed hero 
• The 'sidekick' - Said 

The film revolves around one day ; a clock ; a vicious cycle

Is this Classic Hollywood Narrative?
No. The film goes deeper into an analysis of characters. They have clear physiological motivations that separates them.
-Fraternity: trying to unite and help each other out.

Said/the vicious cycle:
Everything in this film portray Said to be weak. Said is the point of view for this film. He is the observer/ the audience's way in. 'So far so good' He has not fallen into Vinz and Hubert's situation yet. The film is about Vinz's journey, however it is viewed/seen through Said's point of view.  When he says this the world is shown; which again portrays the idea of the vicious circle. He is the last person standing alive. He then says 'so far so good' again at the end of this film. Again, the vicious cycle. 
When Said closes his eyes, the screen goes blank, this is pure evidence that it is in Said's point of view. Said is trapped in the middle, symbolising the vicious cycle once again, he is in between Vinz and the policeman. 

Themes:
Fraternity 
Entrapment
Violence; police/social control
Racism; the colour of the skin / class 


Satif mascare: the French invaded Algeria. The Satif masacre; beheading civillians 
Binary opposition: the French vs the Algerian 
A mixed view
Hypocrisy of assimilation; liberty, equality and fraternity. 


Key events in history/the film: 
-2 people killed inspired the director to make the film
-riots at the beginning was real footage

Narrative :

• Propp's character types (applied to fairytales) - why?
• Classic Hollywood Narrative: 

1.     Beginning, middle, end (positive resolution);
2.     Stock characters with a psychological motivation;
3.     A link between the cause and effect;
4.     Binary opposition; you have to take a side to engage into a film

• Entice a audience
• Propp's character's 31 character types / 7 common character types that appear in folk stories: 

1. The hero
2. The villain 
3. The donor/enabler ; prepares the her in someway/gives the hero an object
4. Helper, helps the hero in the quest
5. The princess, sought for in the narrative
6. The false hero; perceived as a good hero but later emerges as evil
7. The dispatcher; character who sends the hero off

• Suggests that the narrative is a 'human' / international language; we all see this 

• Todorov - Equilibrium:
• A state of equilibruim 
• Disruption 
• Recognition
• Repair
• Reinsatement
• Applied to many narratives 

• Levi Strauss - Binary Opposition 

Context + Messages = Analyse why : why it has been done/it is doing this due to the purpose of the context 

The director has the most control over the messages of the film, we need to know about the other films he/she has previously produced, why they made this/what was their motivation or opinion. 

-Youtube 

-Interviews 

Narrative or genre or authorship( themes and style )

La Haine Narrative Timeline

Is it Classic Hollywood Narrative? Cause/effect, beginning, middle, end, clear resolution:what is it saying?

Torodov's Equilibrium Theory:

• There is no equilibrium as there is violence and conflict from the beginning of the film. During the first scene, riots are shown as the credits appear. There isdisruption throughout due to the violence and conflicts between the opposition. Torodov's theory is not accurate or relevant here, as there is conflict throughout, although the audience is made to think that there may be a positive resolution to the film, we find out that this is not true as the main characters get shot. This portrays the realism of the film. 

Cause and Effects:

One may argue that the film does not follow a beginning, middle and end or the usual cause and effects. Although, Vinz realises that he cannot shoot the policeman, he does not gain good karma or respect and is shot by the policeman. The characters are trapped in a vicious circle, that no matter what happens this is what is destined to end / occur in their life.

• All the events in the film happen within one day

• Police loses his gun during the riot the night before

• Vinz then finds this gun and vows that he will shoot a police man if his friend, Abdel dies in hospital (he has been beaten due to the riots)

• Said meets Hubert, a blacker boxer and introduces him to Vinz

• They go to Paris, getting in trouble with the Police constantly

• They are informed that Abdel is dead

• Confronted by racist, anti-immigrant skin-heads on a roof top summary

• Vinz goes to carry out his vengeance, however he cannot do it.

• In the earl morning, the three split up to go home however they meet with the same policeman that Vinz insulted previously

• The policeman shoots Vinz, and therefore Hubert and the Policeman shoot each other. Hubert shoots the policeman due to equality and fraternity. The two themes of the French ideology

• Kassovitz portrays a critical political message, he portrays themes that bring up the French political system in relation to racism and immigrants.
• The film challenges narrative structure to portray the message across. 
• Said's character development begins at the end. He is the youngest of the three. His older brother is respected and mature. He is reborn at the end of the film.