Pan's Labyrinth Opening Scene Analysis
The first thing heard in Pan's Labyrinth, before anything is shown onscreen, is a lullaby being hummed. On a first viewing, this could be seen as due to the fairy tale, storybook like nature of the film, however, after seeing the film in full, the audience know that it is also what Carmen hums to Ofelia as she dies at the end of the film. Immediately, this hints that many of the events of the film, specifically the fantasy elements, may not be real, but instead imagined by the child protagonist; this theory is also justified by the fact it lingers on a black screen means that this opening scene is from Ofelia's perspective as she dies, as her eyes are shut, and begins to repeat the events of the film back to herself. This is quickly juxtaposed by the text that follows, which explains the political situation in Spain in the time that it's set. The film then shows Ofelia, laying on the floor, breathing heavily, and being held, likely by her mother, as the lullaby is still hu