Captain Vidal as a Representation of Franco in Pans Labyrinth

Captain Vidal is having a dinner party. The scene opens with Vidal looking at his watch, a recurring image in the film, while waiting for his guests to arrive. Time is a strong feature in the film, here Vidal is checking his watch to ensure his guests are not late, he is shown to be a strict disciplinarian and very punctual throughout the film. Even during this scene where he is about to host a dinner party, Vidal seems to be unable to relax and socialise. He dismisses any conversation that is not war related which highlights how his main focus is to seek out and kill the guerrillas in the mountains. This scene portrays Vidal as Franco who, even after the war was over, sought after and killed thousands of people who were on the opposing side. One of the main reasons Vidal is so intent on driving out the geurillas is because he wants his son to be born into "Una Espana lympia y nueva", which he will create by brute force if necessary.

At the start of the scene, Vidal stands at the head the table and gives each person one ration card to the food which he has control over. When a guest at the table complains that it might not be enough, Vidal says it will be plenty and that none is to go to the guerrillas in the mountains. All this is going on while the whole table pile food onto their plates. Vidal ensures his guests will have enough food and don't go hungry just as Franco took care of anyone on his side. Here, the scene may represent the difference in lifestyles between Franco and his support base compared to those against him, thousands of whom, if not killed by Franco, died of starvation after the war. One of the guests at the table is a priest representing the catholic church that was very arm in arm with Franco. This is highlighted when the priest says it does not matter what happens to the bodies of the rebels, that god has already forgiven their souls.

The people at the table accept anything that the captain says just as they would Franco. One of the guests at the table is a priest representing the Catholic Church during Franco. He says that it does not matter what happens to the bodies of the rebels in the mountains, while piling food onto his plate. This shows del Torro's opinion of the catholic church at that time

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