THE HUNGER GAMES: THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES

US, 2023, 157 minutes, Colour.

Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler, Viola Davis, Peter Dinklage, Jason Schwartzman, Fionulla Flanagan, Hunter Schaefer, Burn Gorman, Josh Andres Rivera.

Directed by Francis Lawrence.

Suzanne Collins reached out to the Young Adult audience with her Hunger Games novels, avidly and widely read. And, addicted ago, the Young Adult audience reached out to the film versions. So much so, that there were four Hunger Games films, showcases for Jennifer Lawrence (who, in fact, it already won an Oscar for The Silver Lining is Playbook) and her subsequent career. There was also Josh Hutcherson and wide adult cast including Donald Sutherland, Elizabeth banks, Stanley Tucci…

So the question arises, how did it take so long to bring this prequel story to the screen. But, here it is.

Ideally, the reviews to be read should be those of the target audience, appreciative Young Adults. They can tell us which characters are credible, which characters they could identify with, what of this presentation of the Games themselves, the power hungry authoritarian leaders, the young leads – and Coriolanus Snow and his early years, leading to the character we saw in the previous films, older and authoritarian.

But, this is a review by an Old Adult! Who admits to enjoying the film, making the comparisons with the earlier films, but very much interested in the character, young development and crises, of Coriolanus Snow. (And the satisfaction, at the very end, of hearing a brief comment with the voice of Donald Sutherland as the older Snow.)

The success of this film very much depends on the performance by British Tom Blyth of the young Coriolanus – and he acquits himself very well. At first, he is a product of this totalitarian regime, loyal, student, ready to be a mental, especially to the annual tributes from the Districts who have been chosen to participate in the gladiatorial, bloodthirsty, to the death, Hunger Games. Coriolanus is given a family background, and devoted grandmother (a good cameo by funeral of Flanagan) and sympathetic cousin (Hunter Schaefer).

As regards the hierarchy this time, there is by older Davis, more than sinister in appearance and voice, Dr Gall, the controller and manager of the Hunger Games. There is also the Dean, menacing in his way, but ultimately more sympathetic, played by Peter Dingle age. And, for the games themselves, there is the slick compere, enthusiasm-rouser, callous, Flee finger, played by Jason Schwartzman.

So, the first part of the film is the setting up of characters, the mentors in their uniforms, loyal to the state, the group of tributes manacled and harassed, but one of them, Lucy Gray, wearing a beautiful dress from her mother, singing, attracting the attention of Coriolanus as well as of the Games audiences, listening to her and making donations.

The second part of the film shows the Games themselves, once more cruel and bloodthirsty, but the audience not present as in the earlier films, rather a television audience, continually egged on. Grim tactics, motivations, Coriolanus intrigued by Lucy Gray, even breaking the rules to help her. And a challenge to Dr Gall to admit that Lucy Gray is the winner.

The third part of the film takes place in District 12, Coriolanus and his friends are Jane is relegated to being peacekeepers. And this will be the test for Coriolanus and his future, his relationship with Lucy Gray, his loyalties and ambitions, the testing of his friendships.

But, we know how he did turn out and his role in the future, this film enables us to understand the steps on his road to that position.

1. The popularity of the novels? The film versions? This prequel, a decade after the previous films?
2. The target audience, Young Adult? Older audiences?
3. Audience knowledge of the previous stories, of The Hunger Games, of the rebellion and wars, of the Districts, of the tributes, the gladiatorial combat in the arena, treated as slaves, the training, the mentors, the public, television and the media, violence? The tyranny of the authorities? The bids for independence?
4. The re-creation of the period, the city and its buildings, the streets and cars, the Square with the fountain and the high statue? The buildings and facades? The interiors? The gladiatorial arena, the tunnels underneath? The formal assemblies? Dr Gore and her laboratory and species? Television and the compere? The contrast with ordinary homes?
5. The focus on Coriolanus, the audience knowing that he was going to become the authority of the future? He and Tigress when they were young, taking refuge? Growing up, his status, appearance, getting ready for the assembly, his cousin with the special shirt, is hoping for the prize, his grandmother and her pride, memories of the past, his dead father? His manner, self-assured?
6. The assembly, Dr Gall, her appearance, her look, sounding sinister, in charge of the Games, her ambitions, control? Addressing the crowd? The dean, his appearance and dress, taunting Coriolanus? The issue of the prize? The new test? The assembly of the Mentors, their hopes? Rivalries? Coriolanus and his friendship with Sejanus, the family wealth?, Competitiveness?
7. The arrival of the tributes, seeing them on the screens, the range, age, mail female, racial, desperate, assured? Their being attributed to the mentors? Coriolanus, seeing Lucy Gray, her associate?
8. The first part of the film, setting the characters, setting the situation, the influence of Dr Gall, the command by the Dean? Lucy Gray, her mother’s dress, standing out, her singing? Coriolanus and his getting permission to meet her, their interactions? His travelling in the band, emptied out, his being rescued? His discussions with Dr Gall, plans?
9. The issue of cheating, Coriolanus presenting his plan, being claimed by his rifle, Dr Gall the snakes, the manuscript with the snakes, taunting her to put her hand in, her being poisoned? Coriolanus and is later use of sent and the snakes and their response?
10. Lucy Gray, her singing and the impact, the introduction by the compere, his appearance, style, magician, commentary, cheerful and callous, Lucy Gray and her singing and the donations?
11. Coriolanus, getting permission to go in, with Sejanus to be rescued, the pursuit by the tributes, Coriolanus smashing the head of the pursuer? His comment, feeling of power?
12. The episode of the games, gladiatorial, self-preservation, attack, Coriolanus giving Lucy Gray the powder, her spiking the bottle of water, smashing the others, one of the competence dying? The escapee, his being crucified, his axe death, being cut down? Lucy Gray is friend, his covering the bodies of the dead? Coriolanus and his advice for the escape, the two leaving, hiding, a companion suspicious, the rabies, the device of sending in water, pressing the button, the rabies victim frightened of water, his collapse and death? Lucy Gray being pursued in the tunnels? The forks? The powder? Her escape, the pursuit, the death of the others, a continuing to sing, the popularity, the appeal to Dr Gall, that she was the winner?
13. Coriolanus, the attraction to Lucy Gray, his injuries and Dr Gall stitching, the handkerchief, with Lucy Grace sent, giving it to the snakes, they’re not attacking her? Dr Gall with the evidence?
14. Coriolanus, the banishment, to be a peacemaker, stripped of everything? His grandmother and cousin? Going with Sejanus? Permission to go to District 12, the club, Lucy Gray and her singing, her antagonism towards the young man and the conflict when she became tribute, Sejanus and his wanting to help the rebels, seeing the hanging, the mayor’s daughter and her imprisonment, Sejanus contacting her? Coriolanus, suspicions, discussion with St Janice, recording him and sending the message to Dr Gall? Seeing the rebels, the guns, the shootout and deaths? Getting rid of the guns? Sejanus, his arrest, the other rebels, the hanging?
15. The lyrical aspects, meeting Lucy Gray, going to the woods, to the Lake, the group on the swim? The possibility of their escaping to the north? The Commandant, his control of the District, pleased with Coriolanus, deciding to send him for further training?
16. The attempt at escape, the heart, the discovery of the guns, Lucy Gray disappearing, Coriolanus and his desperation, the boat, the guns in the water, his return?
17. His going back to the capital, the conversation with Dean, the Dean killing himself? With Dr Gall, her grooming him then to take charge?
18. The final words with the voice of Donald Sutherland as Coriolanus snow from the future?