THE HUNGER GAMES

US, 2013, 148 minutes, Colour.
Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Donald Sutherland, Stanley Tucci, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Wes Bentley, Liam Hemsworth.
Directed by Gary Ross.

Experts (young, especially, and old) have offered reassurances that this film is a good adaptation of the first novel in her trilogy by Suzanne Collins. Given a box-office take of over 150 million dollars in five days in the US, the film is also critic-proof.

Nevertheless, all reviewers have added their two penneth worth.

Not knowing much about the novels or film except some of the hype, I was not necessarily looking forward with eager anticipation. After all, a film for young audiences about a group of youngsters involved in deadly games (literally) with only one survivor, didn’t sound the best.

However... it turns out to be an interesting and enjoyable film even for some oldies!

The popular description is still accurate but it reminds us that we shouldn’t listen too much to ‘what’ a film is about but ask ‘how’ it is dramatised.

This is a futuristic film, a dystopian society, a phrase that is getting more and more use as we see futuristic films, apocalyptic films where populations are kept under tyrannical control or the world is going to end. This film offers an ironic image of contemporary society. 74 years earlier uprisings were put down and, as punishment (and for authority’s control), each year a boy and a girl from the 12 districts are chosen by a lottery (‘a reaping’) as ‘tribute’ to be first feted (and sumptuously fed), then displayed in procession and interview on television for a population that relishes its privilege in bizarre clothes and make-up but mindlessly applauds the razzamatazz of the Hunger Games show. Of course, the Games are a deadly manifestation of Reality TV, though the organisers can intervene against the games for and against the contestants – which they do by advanced technology, even to creating virtual monsters.

So, Suzanne Collins has created a strange world that can draw in a young audience.

The film has a lot to show about society control. While the President, like Big Brother, is watching, so is the whole population, the frivolously cruel spectators watching futuristic gladiatorial combat to the death as well as the poorer inhabitants of West Virginia-like mining communities where the heroine comes from.
The dialogue is well-written and does not rely on sloppy or lazy writing. And, Jennifer Lawrence (already an Oscar nominee in her teens for Winter’s Bone) is Katniss Everdene, a strong and intelligent heroine, resourceful, thoughtful and the opposite of some of the vicious and murderous contestants. Josh Hutcherson is effective as the partner from Katniss’ district. Gary Ross, who collaborated with the author and other writers for the screenplay, has directed the film effectively. His other films include Pleasantville (with its parody and irony on television worlds is linked thematically with The Hunger Games) and the more straightforward racing film, Seabiscuit.

The supporting cast is very interesting with Elizabeth Banks (donning the bizarre costumes) as the chaperone and Woody Harrelson as a sympathetic trainer/publicist. A blue-buffed hairdo distinguishes Stanley Tucci as the play-to-the- audience-jovial TV compere. Wes Bentley as the organiser of the games looks darkly satanic with devilishly trimmed beard. Donald Sutherland is the president, quietly and murderously controlling.

While this film can be seen as a stand-alone story, Donald Sutherland turns to go up a staircase at the end – obviously there must be more.

1. The popularity of the novels? The series? The adaptation for the screen? For fans? For wider audiences? The success of the film?

2. The young audiences, the story and treatment oriented towards them? There identifying with the characters and situations? The world, post-apocalypse? A new world and authorities’, tyranny? A world of violence, dramatised in sport? And the role of the media, the influence of the media and audience response? Fashion, hedonism? The competitive games? Greed vs. ideals and care?

3. A dystopian world, societies? The history, rebellions, uprising and, war? Punishment? The role of the law? Class distinctions? Class and domination? The sacrifice of the children, tribute?

4. The background of the Roman Empire, the sets, names like Caesar and Seneca, the audiences watching the games with the same attitudes of ancient Romans, the nature of the games, fight to death? The Roman Empire? Decline and fall?

5. The history of the society? 74 years? The districts, control, the president and his sinister government? Officials? The games, Seneca in charge? The staff? The television and the memorials?

6. Fashions, makeup, ostentation, ridiculous? The contrast with ordinary people in the districts?

7. Katniss and her place in the community, West Virginia, the mines, poor people, lack of food, the markets and bartering? The family, her mother, sister? Katniss and her responsibilities? Her skill in hunting, going beyond the lawful bounds, hurting the deer? The liking Gale Hawthorne, talking with him in the forest? The prospect of the games? Preparation, especially for Primrose?

8. The gathering for the lottery? Effie Trinket and her manner, make-up, dress, walk? Hosting the lottery? Speeches, the party line? The choices, Primrose being selected? Katniss and her reaction, her decision to volunteer? The media response? Peeta and his being chosen, resigned? The sense of fatalism about the tributes being chosen? Peeta and Katniss talking, the memories, her remembering his seeming disregard? Throwing the bread, the mud? Peeta and his love for Katniss, remembering? The visit of Primrose? Of her mother? Of Gale? Asking Gale to look after the family?

9. Katniss as heroine, her age, strength, skills, intelligence, self-awareness, self-sacrificing? Care for her sister, for her mother? Attitude towards Peeta, going to the competition?

10. The train, the clothes, designer and his continued support, her dress, the procession, the Roman symbolism, the fire, the media commentary, the response of the crowds? The interviews, the hype? Her demonstrating the fiery dress? The comments by Effie? Her response to her clothes designer and his affirmation? Train to the city, the lavish meals?

11. Effie trinkets and her fussiness, a bureaucrat, taking advantage of the privileges?

12. Haymitch his being a past winner? Appointed as coach? His coaching, drinking, sardonic remarks, pessimism? Part of the establishment, enjoying the privileges? His interest in Katniss? In Peeta? Liking her, her behavior in the tests and auditions?

13. The contestants, 12 districts, the past history? The range of interviews, the need for sponsors? Caesar and his stirring up the crowd, his reality television style of compering? Katniss and her blunt talk? Discussion of the dress? The audition for skills, her missing the target, the dilettante audience, their ignoring Katniss? Her shooting at the apple, gaining their attention? The reading out of the results? Her winning? Peeta and his strength, leaving the objects? The others and their skills, mocking Peeta?

14. Caesar, his appearance, blue hair, his ability to stir audiences, slick, the nature of his commentary? The fickle audience, their manner, clothes and fashions?

15. Seneca, dark, sinister, control of the games, his pride, the interview with the president and his threats?

16. The games, the conditions, survival, killing their opponents, brutality? A commentary on the society?

17. The president, his style, appearance, his manner of ruling, his speeches, his presentation of the past, interpretation of the games, control, interview with Seneca? Supervising the games, and his ascending the steps at the end, his future, the sequel…?

18. Haymitch and his character, his past, coaching, advice, drinking, the interviews, on the train, seeming lack of interest, his change, help and encouragement, sending the messages and the help to Katniss?

19. The contestants, the film placing a great emphasis on the different characters? Their professional fighting? The girls? The young girl depending on Katniss, the suddenness and pathos of her death? Her helping Katniss survive, the tree, the bees?

20. The continual surveillance, the audience watching, Cesar and his commentary, the listings of the dead? A contest and showing who had died?

21. The visualizing of the games, Katniss and her shrewdness, running, the arrows? deposit of food, the mines, her exploding them? Peeta and the group chasing Katniss? Her hiding in the tree? Wound, lotion and healing? The beehive and her escaping? Meeting Peeta, rescuing him, his help, the forests, the Rivers, the wounds?

22. The girl and her help, her death? The vicious girls? Men? The black contestant and his letting Katniss go? The to the death mentality?

23. The family’s watching, the districts, the mother, Gale? The background to Peeta and his declaration of love for Katniss on the television, her supporting this? Gale watching the two on the television, upset?

24. Peeta, for the Katniss, the flashbacks, his not expecting to survive? His declaration of love, the media exploiting the Romeo and Juliet scenario, audience response?

25. Contestants helping one another, the dependence, the final decision, Katniss and Peeta deciding not to kill each other? Their being crowned? The achievement? Survival?

26. The film in itself, but leading to the future and the sequel?