The Hunger Games: Throwback
Ten years after saying goodbye to Katniss Everdeen’s final bow, the dystopian universe of The Hunger Games is reborn from its ashes with The Rime of the Serpent and the Songbird. This new chapter immerses us in the twists and turns of the past, sixty years before the emblematic uprising of the original trilogy, during the tenth edition of the Hunger Games – the first to be broadcast on screens under the concept of a host show and introduce the Mentor figure in tributes condemned to the mortal arena.
At the center of this new adventure is the young Coriolanus Snow, future tyrannical president of Panem and emblematic antagonist of the saga. An ambitious student of the Capitol, he is entrusted with the fate of Lucy Gray Baird, homage of District 12, birthplace of the famous Katniss.
Adapted from Suzanne Collins’ 2020 prequel novel, this film explores the origins of the despot of Panem, revealing the events that shaped his cold soul and lack of compassion.
Francis Lawrence, creator of the last three parts of the saga, orchestrates this return to the sources with a surprising opening. The “dark days” are depicted there, which bear witness to the first insurrection against the Capitol and the cruel genesis of the Hunger Games, an instrument of domination and memory of the Capitol’s victory over the Districts.
The opening scene, in which we discover a young Coriolanus and his cousin Tiger desperate for food, highlights the after-effects of the war on the Capitoline aristocracy and Snow’s determination to restore the family’s honor which will have to result in a victory for his tribute at the Hunger Games.
More essential games
This prequel is undoubtedly aimed at fans of Hunger Games, venturing into risky territory: rekindling the flame of a saga without its figurehead, Jennifer Lawrence. Renowned actors, such as Viola Davis and Peter Dinklage, are relegated to the background, leaving the spotlight on Tom Blyth, in the role of a Coriolanus Snow in the making, and Rachel Zegler, interpreter of Lucy Gray Baird, already applauded in the film History of the West Side by Steven Spielberg.
The film focuses on a crucial event: the tenth matches, the first to be broadcast on television as a major spectacle. This aspect of the story is handled with meticulous, captivating care the essence of an evoked erabut never depicted, with plans and architecture of the Capitol demonstrating considerable attention to detail on the part of Francis Lawrence (already at the helm of the last three films of the saga).
This prequel offers a radically different interpretation of The Hunger Games. Gone are the technological glories and the grandiloquent spectacle of previous editions (the homages are thrown into the decrepit amphitheater hungry, without prior training); here the games are basic, sordid, confined to an indoor arena that intensifies every confrontation. The action, tight, gains tensionbut perhaps it loses its splendor, reflecting a cruder, less stylized brutality.
However, the depiction of violence is restrained, tempered by the imperatives of a PG-13 rating, which prevents the film from reaching the degree of intensity that the story seems to require.
The Rime of the Serpent and the Songbird it is divided into two distinct acts: the first, exciting, immerses us in the violence of the tenth Hunger Games; the second, however, marks an abrupt transition towards a more calm, almost contemplative cadence. This narrative dichotomy can be confusing, the pace is wearing thin after a breathless startstretching the story to a point that sometimes borders on unnecessary.
However, it is in this second half that Snow’s character is revealed, his transformation occurring in a somewhat hasty but nevertheless significant manner, bringing us to the beginnings of the ruthless tyrant we know.
Tom Blyth perfectly embodies the complex character of Coriolanus Snow, who, trapped in the web of games, becomes a key player in the perpetuation of this cruel system. This nuance leads to a richer understanding of how the games shape all of Panem’s inhabitants, forging predators even outside the arena.
For her part, Rachel Zegler, without ever equaling Jennifer Lawrence, offers a convincing performance, however eclipsed by that of Tom Blyth. Fans of the saga will still appreciate discovering the origin of the main song sung by Katniss: The hanging treehere played by Zegler.
The Rime of the Serpent and the Songbird It stands out from its predecessors with a less grand, but more intimate atmosphere, reflecting the confined nature of the arena in which the action takes place. This choice of staging, while remaining faithful to the original spirit of the saga, offers a different experience, more focused on the emotions and psychology of the characters than on the splendor of the spectacular matches that fans were accustomed to. Some people may therefore not completely agree with what the film is about.
The Hunger Games: The Rime of the Serpent and the Songbird It can be seen in cinemas from November 15th.
Source: Cine Serie
Ray Ortiz is a journalist at Gossipify, known for his coverage of trending news and current events. He is committed to providing readers with accurate and unbiased reporting, and is respected for his ability to keep readers informed on the latest news and issues.
