Hunger Games Film Study

This week in film study we have been analysing the Hunger Games (2012), and the choices made by Gary Ross. The following is our brainstorms on the contrast between the wealthy and the impoverished citizens of Panem. 

District 12:

- District 12 is impoverished

- District 12 uses no currency, only trade

- Clothing is dirty, dull

- Hair is unkept as hygiene is poor

- Music is minimalistic, relaxed, soothing (light humming)

- Living conditions far below par

- Famined citizens, starving; citizen shown scraping the meat off of a bone with their teeth.

- Katniss uses a bow to hunt for extra food, as her family is probably starving

Capitol:

- Capitol is the wealthiest area of Panema

- Clothing is bright and interesting; exotic

- Hairstyles are extraordinary

- Makeup is excessive, colourful

- Exotic music is futuristic, fast paced

- Buildings are large, prestine condition, in oppressing gray

(D12) Reaping:

- District 12 citizens dresssed in dull colored clothing

- Peacekeepers dressed in oppressive black and white

- Effie dressed in vibrant white and pink

- Surrounded by sunlight, and spotlighted harsh, white lighting

- Establishing shots used to show the crowding of District 12 citizens

- Great tyrranical walls of dull grey brick

- Diegetic sound used to induce tense feelings: rustling of paper, footsteps, the hiss of a microphone waiting to be used

- Close-ups and extreme close-ups used to display the reactions and feelings of Effie, Katniss, and Primrose

- A large screen, one of the only examples of electricity being used in District 12

- Silence

(Capitol) TV Show:

- TV style presentation

- Large stadiums, great crowds

- Vibrant yellow and orange backing

- Harsh spotlight

- Backstage staff moving around, talking to eachother

- Deafening cheers and screams from the crowd

- Closeups to see Katniss and Caesar's reactions to questions/answers

Tribute Parade:

- Mid shots on crowd, full of the wealthy and their extravagant attire

- Futuristic technology

- Costumes used to keep down impoverished districts...

- ...Which Katniss and Peta defy when they are in their 'on fire' outfits

- Closeups on the crowd as they cheer on Katniss and Peta

- Katniss is now 'the girl on fire,' a title which will help to instill hope into the districts she represents

Rue's Death:

- Sad, sombre music

- Closeups to show Katniss's reaction to Rue's death

- Closeup on Rue as her eyes are closed, putting her to rest

- Mid shot to show Katniss's full body grieving to Katniss...

- ...Her reaction drowned out by only non-diagetic sound

- Establishing shots used to show the citizens of District 11, all three-finger saluting; a symbol of hope, and the hope they have lost

- Tracking shot to show man starting the riot that would take place in District 11

- Layers of diagetic sound, screams, slams, the breaking of glass, marching, juxtaposed by soft music

- Dutch tilts, shaky camerawork, and quick cuts to show the pacing of riot taking place; a montage of destruction

- Contrast between slow, personal footage of Katniss and Rue to the very harsh camerawork of D11's riot

Peta and Katniss:

- Hopeful, royal sounding strings

- Over the shoulder shots and closeups used to show their body language; Katniss strings her bow as she believes Peta is going to kill her, Peta's readiness to be killed.

- High angle shots used to make Katniss and Peta look weak in the face of the large ship flying down over their head

Katniss's Scoring:

- Tracking shot to show Katniss's slow approach to the scoring area

- Katniss shrouded in a lack of lighting; Hunger Games officials shrouded in vibrant coloured lighting

- Katniss ignored, officials talking to eachother

- Positioned lower than officials, high angle shots used to make Katniss look weak in the face of her scorers

- Panning shots show trajectory of arrows

- Closeups of Katniss's now panick-ridden face and body language. 

- Mid shots used to show Katniss draw her bow toward the camera

- Pig used as a symbol of indulgence brought only by wealth,

- Katniss's shot through the pig represents the theme of Rich vs Poor; rebellion against the wealthy (by the impoverished)

What are the differences between District 12 & the Capitol's clothes?

District 12, as the most impoverished of all 13 districts, is sorely lacking in clothing and hygiene. Clothing is reduced to dulled whites and greys as they are washed over and over again. The Capitol's clothes, on the other hand, are vibrant and consist of bright, contrasting colours. Makeup worn by those living in the Capitol are worn in great excess, often with entire skin colours being altered. (This can be seen in Effie's makeup during The Reaping.) Hairstyles in the Capitol are extravagant and exotic, and are also consisting of bright colours whereas hairstyles in District 12 are dirty and unkept, due to a lack of hygienic practice. 

This is very similar to what is happening to Auckland at the moment, where southern suburbs lack the income required to function, and where northern suburbs like Parnell are some of the wealthiest suburbs in New Zealand.

What does the word tribute mean?

A tribute is either an item, animal, or person that is gifted as a show of respect & admiration, or a payment made from one ruler to another as a sign of gratitude. The word tribute is used intentionally as it can be interpreted in two different ways, and both are valid in this context. Which definition is intended is never explained.

What can people in D12 do to get extra food?

Citizens of District 12 can volunteer their name to go into the Reaping more than once in exchange for extra food rations. This increasing their chances of being chosen as tribute. They can, like Katniss, also hunt illegally in fenced off areas of wilderness which contains animals such as squirrels and deer.