MONSTERS

• Through trials set by the faun, ofelia comes to acqure a moral conscience, which influences the important decisons that she makes in the real world.
• What does del toro say about the faun?

  'a creature that is neither good nor evil... like nature... a character that is there to witness and shephard Ofelia in her rite of passage... but he doesn't care if she lives or dies.'
• What does ofelia only meeting the faun in darkness tell about the faun?

  Used to establish the ambiguity of the faun. He is never fully lit, dark shadows and harsh lighting add to his obscurity and leave the viewer questioning his trust. The nighttime trope builds suspicions and warns of danger.
• What happens when there is a fairy in the shot?

  Them and ofelia share equal spaces in the frame. The fairy is important becuase it creates the first link between Ofelia and the fantasy world, it plays the role of the guide.
• What does the toad represent?

  Fascist greed - direclty after Vidals dinner table scene. The toad is pure evil seeking to destroy that which is attempting to grow (women). Brutalises and destroys innocent futures and coded in fascism.
• What does Ofelia tell the toad?

  'arent you ashamed of being down here? eating the bugs and getting fat whilst the tree is dying...'
• What artists art work is the pale man inspired by?

  'saturn destroying his son' painted by Goyo. The scene where he bites of the head of one of the fairies is directly inspired by this.
• What did Del Toro believe about the best movie monsters?

  'if the monster stays the same throughout the film then there is no sense of drama in the image.'

  'like a piece of art, a glance at the monster should tell you its story, purpose and what it represents.'

  The entire world of the film needs to be an ecosystem to support the monster. Production design co exists with creature design.
• 'i have to think not only as an actor, but aslo as an athlete' Doug Jones
• With the fairies, Del Toro liked the idea that Ofelia could bend the objective reality into her fairytale reality.
• Upon first meeting, the fauns movements are erratic and shaky, he is covered in roots and moss, his eyes are milky white and his hair is unkempt and grey.

  As the film progresses, he grows younger and movements become smoother.
• The faun = symbolises the natural world and its beauty which has been destroyed by Franco's regime. The faun also represents the innocence of childhood and how it can be corrupted by war.