Hunger Games

Introduction

The Hunger Games is an American film produced by Colour Force and released in March 2012. The film is a science fiction adventure film. It was directed by Gary Ross and it was based on a novel of the same title written by Suzanne Collins. The cast includes Jennifer Lawrence, Jeff Hutcherson, and Woody Harrelson. The story is set in the nation of Panem, an anarchistic, dystopian society in North America where teenage boys and girls must take part in the Hunger Games.

Essentially, the Hunger Games are a series of gladiatorial duels in which young boys and girls aged between twelve and eighteen years are forced to fight to the death with the winner guaranteed fame and fortune. These duels are partly a punitive measure for an earlier rebellion and partly a way of stamping out social unrest in the nation. The film grossed more than $690 million on a budget of $78 million. It was a box office hit raking in $152.2 million within a week of its release.

The Plot of the Hunger Games

Panem is a dystopian nation ruled by President Snow. It consists of a wealthy and glamorous Capitol who rules over twelve districts stricken by varying degrees of poverty. As a punishment for an earlier uprising, each of the districts are compelled to produce two teenagers called “tributes” one male and one female who will fight to the death in a yearly gladiatorial contest called the hunger games. The fights take place in a massive arena in the Capitol. The winner of the games is guaranteed fame and wealth. One particular year, Primross Everdeen is selected by lot from district twelve but her elder sister Katniss volunteers to replace her.

The male tribute, Peeta Mellark, professes his love for Katniss publicly. On their way to the games, Peeta and Katniss are accompanied by both the Capitol chaperone, Effie Trinket and Haymitch Abernathy. Abernathy is a former winner of the games and acts as a mentor for both Katniss and Peeta. During the games, Katniss and Peeta each narrowly escape death on several occasions. Katniss develops a friendship with Rue, the female tribute from district 11 and grieves when she is killed. This observation prompted calls for a change in the rules to allow for two survivors if they are from the same district. Eventually, Katniss and Peeta survive but the rules are changed once more, meaning that one of them would have to kill the other. Katniss convinces Peeta that rather than kill each other they should eat poisonous night lock berries. While they are discussing this, they are jointly named co-winners of the 74th Hunger Games.