Pans Labyrinth - Drama

The settings in a film contribute to the theme and characterization, bringing to it much more than just a backdrop to the scene. A host of elements work in unison to contribute to the creation of a realistic or formalistic perception of a film. The screen director works with almost infinite limits to convey a vast amount of information. Special effects, controlled on set locations, and access to actual locations provide the modern day director with the tools necessary to create their vision.

Set design is often conveniently labeled as either realistic or formalistic. More accurately, the set tends to lean towards one style or another without fully committing. Often sets are recreations of locations or periods which no longer exist, as a result they must contain, to some degree, a director’s artistic vision even while creating a realistic imitation. Filming prehistoric creatures such as that in Jurassic Park (U.S.A., 1993), while intended to be realistic, require great contribution from the directors imagination. Filming at an actual location doesn’t necessarily label a film as formalistic either. The use of color and type of shot can greatly influence the look and feel of an actual location.

The use of filming techniques, to beautify or sensationalize a set, can contribute to the sense of realism or formalism as much as the actual setting itself. If the majority of shots are taken during a foggy evening filled with moonlight or during the rising dew of the morning sunrise, the natural beauty of the scene seems to contribute to a sense of formalism. In the film Pans Labyrinth (Spain, 2006), the dark forest setting and lack of brightly lit or sun filled scenes even in the real world, coincides with the fantasy world that Ofelia encounters. The items on the set can contribute just as greatly to the style.

The contribution of a setting is significant as they can tell the story of a character even before he enters the scene. A setting which contains lavish decoration can indicate a wealthy status, while a scene of simple amenities can depict a poor less affluent character. The way that the props on set are presented can direct the film’s realistic or formalistic influence. Items brought to the forefront in close up shots or emphasized by lighting can influence the formalistic feel of a scene. The lack of these techniques leaves items on the set to insignificance, leaving a more realistic feel to the shot. A film could contain the same scenes with the same actors, but contain a completely different feel depending on the vision of the director.

The overall stylistic representation of a set can greatly contribute to the formalist or realistic tendencies of a film. The director’s ability to manipulate the items on set, and the location, to convey his or her intentions deicide the interpretation the audience will have on a film. Some films by nature of their content will be shot with a formalistic style, such as Pans Labyrinth (Spain, 2006), others are left more open to interpretation such as Full Metal Jacket (U.S.A., 1987). Most films tend to use contributions of both realistic and formalistic styles to convey a films feeling, while relying greatly on the set to accomplish the intended goal.