In class we discussed the mise-en-scene and micro features of Pan’s Labyrinth and focused on one character/s or the feast to analyse in a slide. Me and Ben were given The Captain.

The Captain’s Feast establishes the nature of the fascist ruling class in rural Spain and the attitudes and values of Captain Vidal, the villain in the film. The feast is a scene of indulgence, greed and power. Vidal is a fascist brute, he is proud of his reputation and dominates the scene. The guests are hypocrites and prove to be arrogant, patronising and snobbish. Carmen, seems out of place and is represented as fragile, elegant and intimidated by the other guests, we also get the impression that Vidal does not care for her.

Some of the mise-en-scene that relates to The Captain specifically we decided was, firstly, that he was wearing medals on his chest. This communicates that he was given them for his skill in war and conveys that he is the Captain like is mentioned in the film. This may also indicate that he would do anything to achieve those medals, especially with him being the rank of Captain, suggesting he’s ruthless and ambitious.

Secondly, Vidal is seated at the top of the table. This is an example of proxemics due to the placement of him at the end. Seating him at the top end of the table  shows the power imbalance between him and the other guests, making him appear important. As the camera moves back, him sitting at the top of the table could also show loneliness and reveal that he is fighting his own battle, even with his comrades on the same table. It shows that even with his friends by his side, because of the position he is in he is struggling with his own thoughts.

Another example of mise-en-scene is that the lighting is dark and bland. Within the scene the colour is kept minimum conveying that Vidal is a man of little taste and structure. He like to be in charge and take order of things, keeping everything minimal and tactical; only used for its purpose and nothing else. The lighting being this dark also shows how sinister Vidal is and how dark and life-taking his own world is. He has invited them to his feast, into his world, only to show them a decrepit dining hall, a metaphor for what he is trying to convince them to join. His hellish dictatorship.

Overall Vidal’s mise-en-scene shows that he is ambitious, dark, sinister, and cruel. It shows he is an ugly man with an ugly heart, full of selfishness, trying to conquer its own battles.