Exploring Cinematography - Pan's Labyrinth & Fish Tank

 Pan's Labyrinth (Del Torro, 2006)

Camera angles:

Tilted upwards

Eye-level to start off

Bird's eye shot to establish setting 

Low angle to view mother

See Ofelia at eye level

Sense of movement, canted angles followed by a CU and an ECU
 
Camera shots:

Medium-close-up 

The shots mimic Ofelia's perspective - the spectator is Ofelia - driving the                                    narrative - CU to her eye

Over-the-shoulder shot (their perspective)

Camera movement:

 tilt and pan, tilt upwards, dolly shot, tracking shots 

movement to the left signifies going back in time 

COLOUR - countryside - colour symbolic of duality of the two worlds


Fish Tank (Arnold, 2009)




Camera angles: fluctuating between eye-level and below the actors (mimics dancing)

Camera shots: medium close-up, shaky shots (mirrors chaotic nature of real life, brewing conflict)

focuses on both Mia and  Connor but, when she starts getting into the dancing, focuses on her

Camera movement: handheld

low budget/aesthetic - reflects the characters

MUSIC - diegetic  - when the music is on the scene is upbeat, like the song, but when the music is interrupted the mood changes (music becomes contrapuntal)

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