In the Science Fiction genre, the theme of the dystopian future has always been a favorite medium to convey its message. Movies like Omega Man, Soylent Green, 1984, Blade Runner, and The Matrix present to the viewers with a dark future where authority is
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| Capitol Propaganda |
oppressive and freedom is simply a mere illusion. The Hunger Games follows a similar formula as each of these classics of cinema. At the very start of the movie, the viewer learns that for the last seventy-four years, the nation of Panem has been celebrating a tournament called The Hunger Games. The tournament is in remembrance of the Capitol's victory over twelve districts during their rebellion. The rules of the tournament are quite simple. Two tributes are selected from each of the twelve districts, a boy and a girl, between the ages of 12 to 18. Once in the tournament, they each get to fight or survive till only one remain. Our heroine is Katniss Everdeen, a tribute from district twelve who volunteers to save her sister who was selected to participate in the tournament through the lottery. Our antagonist is President Snow, the ruler of Panem.
Although there are many subplots covered in the movie, like the flourishing love between our protagonist Katniss and Peeta, we have to recognize that the main topic driving the plot is the conflict of authority between Katniss and Snow. Why? Because the main driver for The Hunger Games plot is the rebellion against authority. Within this movie, this theme worked well since different from the classics I previously mentioned, the protagonists are teenagers. With this demographic, the movie is already targeting an audience that through every generation commonly feels the constant pressure of having to respond to authority figures such as parents, teachers, etc (Kendall, 2021).
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| District Tributes welcome at The Capitol |
The appeal of the movie to the younger audience, and mature ones, is rooted in how they see themselves reflected in the characters being able to perform acts of rebellion against the abusive authority. That abusive authority is clearly represented in the Capitol and its ruler, President Snow. But as we mentioned already, there are other social topics that are leveraged efficiently throughout the movie. One of those is the difference in social classes. From the start of the movie, we can notice that the residents of district twelve are scarce in food, medicine, and other basic necessities. But as soon as Katniss and Peeta walk onto the train that will take them to the Capitol, we are immediately made aware of the abundance and excesses the residents of the Capitol benefit from. The author of the book, and the director of the movie, merged the classic themes of the dystopian future novels and movies with some of the current social issues in our society to keep the plot engaging and appealing to current generations.
Although I did enjoy the movie, I personally have an issue with the plot. The movie presents to us that the Capitol came up with the tournament as a way to honor their victory over the twelve districts. This means that the districts rebelled against the Capitol at least once before. Therefore, I question the plausibility of a tournament being held for seventy-four years where the districts observe how twenty-four of their kids are killed every year for the entertainment, pleasure, and enjoyment of the Capitol. Let's also remember that the Capitol kids do not participate in the tournament. So if you are keeping count, by the seventy-fourth tournament the districts have already lost 1,679 kids to the Hunger Games. Again, I find it hard to believe the districts didn't strike another rebellion sooner.
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| Katniss replacing Primrose as District 12 tribute |
When it comes to the marketability of the movie, I recall that I watched this movie in theaters without knowing what it was about or that it was based on a series of books. There were a couple of television spots that caught my attention. The entire idea of fighting in the tournament for your survival. The shots of the bow and arrow. The whistling of the Mockingjay, yes, I was even curious about that from the previous. Above all, ever since I saw Charlton Heston throw himself in the sand of that beach and yell "You blew it up! Ah, damn you! God damn you all to hell!" at the end of 'Planet of the Apes' I would be lying if I didn't admit that I'm just a sucker for dystopian future movies.
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| Planet of the Apes Final Scene |
Quote 1: Kendall, Jennifer. "The Appeal of Dystopian Novels for Teens." ThoughtCo, Feb. 16, 2021, thoughtco.com/dystopian-novels-and-teens-626666.
The main plot follows Katniss against Snow, but for me, it was bigger than that. It was the districts against the Capitol, which was made clear with district 11 rioting when Rue died. When I started the movie, I thought maybe there was a chance they saw being selected for the games as more of an honor, but I quickly realized that at the Reaping, nobody was excited to be there. When Katniss learned districts 1 and 2 have an advantage and basically train for the games, I thought maybe they felt honored to take part, but even Cato at the end sounds distraught about the games, granted he knows he's about to die. The best answer I have as to why the districts hadn't rebelled in the last 74 years is out of fear and no hope of coming out on top. They'd seen what the Capitol does to rebels and basically wanted survival over freedom.
ReplyDeleteI think the main conflict follows both Katniss and Snow and also the districts and the capital. I think this because really, Katniss and Snow are both the representors of either faction. More so, they both represent the core values of either faction. So I tend to believe that the Katniss vs. Snow is just an easier to digest version of the Districts vs. Capital. I also agree the games have lasted so long out of a need for survival by the districts. As bad as it is to think, people in this kind of situation are more willing to let it happen as long as it isn't them being put on the chopping block. They probably just hope they don't get selected and then resign themselves to having at least gotten the opportunity to survive past their teens.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the point is that rebellion is slow and insidious. Most of the characters are compliant, following the rules of a game that are never in their favor. Even the people in the capitol--Cina and the other Hunger Games workers--seemed do what they must or risk being executed. I don't see Katniss as the symbol of rebellion. She volunteers as tribute because she needs to. She wears the Mockingjay pin because it is repeatedly given to her. Her friendship and honor of death is because of little sister. Her only defiance is threatening suicide. So it is hard to see her as a rally figure.
ReplyDeleteLove that you did the math on how many would have died to get us to the starting point of this film. I would agree - seeing that number in writing, that it would feel that another rebellion would have happened sooner. Perhaps efforts were squashed, since they are given limited resources? I will not be able to view the movie again in the same light - without spouting off that number to whomever may be wanting to watch it.
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