Pan's Labyrinth: can someone please explain something for me?

Question

In the first scene, when Ofelia's mother Carmen steps out of the car because she feels sick, Ofelia goes into the nearby woods and sees the piece of the statue. She picks it up and places it into the statue where it fits and out comes this fairy/insect.

Can someone please explain what this scene means, why it is relevant and what it symbolizes.


and if possible, did the following objects have any symbolic meaning?:

Carmen's Wheelchair (she is forced to use it)
Vidal's Watch (he closely regards it)
Ofelia's Books (she holds them tight but drops them when he sees the fairy/insect again)

any help would be great, im so confused!!!

umm for the record, in answer to the first answer, im 23, which therefore states that im not in school/college so no this is not a 'homework' question

Answer 1

I'm just giving my opinion on these, but..

The scene just seems to set up the characters and their situation. Ofelia's curiosity and fascination with fairies, and the delicate state that her mother is in. It adds understanding to the rest of the film and sets the mood.

I would say the wheelchair just stands for how Carmen is being oppressed by Vidal.

The watch is showing how much Vidal must be in control of everything and everyone.

And the books I would say she clings to b/c she uses them as an escape in a frightening situation, but they were fairy stories so when a fairy shows, up 'for real' they aren't important at that time.

Is Guillermo del Toro amazing? Have you ever seen 'The Devil's Backbone'? If not, check it out.

Answer 2

The entire scene simply symbolises the two characters entering the new world. Ofelia's possibly being happier and Carmen's less.
The opening of any film is to quickly establish the characters, plot and setting and that is what the opening does.
Carmen's wheelchair= symbolises the extremity of the condition she's in and her frailty
Vidal's watch= is important as his father broke his watch upon his death and he plans to do the same so possibly he may feel unsure about the ending of the war (maybe he'll lose) and shows his moral side.
Ofelia's books= she is a character who prefers to exist in a fabricated reality and these books are her link to those world and shows this aspect of her personality

Answer 3

This is a wonderful film, which blends two story levels, one of reality and one of fantasy. The director Del Toro stated that the three tasks set Ofelia (which she reaped the rewards, but failed all three) were not meant to be completed successfully but more for her to learn by her mistakes - therefore making one wise.

My opinion:
1) Children escape reality by creating an imaginary world when they are afraid/fearful of the current situation - hence the perfect fit of the puzzle re statue, faerie etc.,

Vidal was psychotic and a control freak - his unborn son was more important than his new wife - she being a means to an end, hence the wheelchair, not for his wife but for his son.

The watch - although the war was over he felt time was of the essence to capture and torture the resistance, literally, time was running out.

Ofelia's books - a comfort zone for a sad, frightened imaginative child, no symbolism, they, after all enabled her to create this wonderful diversion from reality.

I came across this review which you may be interested in.

http://www.ericdsnider.com/movies/pans-labyrinth

Cozy xx

Answer 4

Since the underground creatures were magical, it may have been known to them that the person who put the eye back into the statue would be the lost princess, and the fairy was waiting for that to happen.

Vidal's watch.
Do you remember during the dinner, the man asked Vidal if it was true that his father broke his watch so Vidal would know the exact time of his father's death? Vidal angrily denied it, but I think he knew it was true. Then, at the end, Vidal asked the rebels to let his son know of the exact time of his death. Not really symbolic of anything (that I can think of), but it was an illustration of Vidal's strict adherence (in his mind) to honor and duty.

As for the other incidents, I can't think of why they would have any significance.
.

Answer 5

use you own imagination, its liek annotating a poem

i watched this film a very long time ago...
the wheelchair means she doesnt have to walk around and do much as he feels he is so important doesnt want his son to come to any harm before birth

the watch.. forgot who vidal is but didnt it belong to someone before?

the books are for escaping the horrible cruel word she lives in with the war and her horrible step father

lol although i could be wring i hardly remember the film...

Answer 6

she sees The statue, The books shes been reading are real.

Answer 7

1

Answer 8

hmmm, this sounds like a weekend homework question, any time any one uses the word symbolic, it usually in reference to homework

Answer 9

i saw that movie but didn't like it i liked the older one ''Labyrinth''.