The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a prequel to the Hunger Games series, released in 2023. It tells the story of Coriolanus Snow before he became Panem’s dictator, showing how he changed into the character we know from the original films.
The film “Catching Fire” was released in 2012 as the second installment in the series.
The film is structured in two parts: the Hunger Games death match and Snow’s search for Lucy.
The prelude to young Snow’s anguish and transformation
The film “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” is based on the 2020 novel of the same name by Suzanne Collins. It is a prequel set 64 years before the first film in the series, The Hunger Games (2008), and depicts the young Coriolanus Snow serving as a mentor for the first time in the 10th Hunger Games.
This prequel explores how Panem began and shows a different side of Coriolanus Snow. Instead of the ruthless dictator from the original series, we see him as a young man struggling between his ideals and the harsh world around him.
Snow begins as a “tutor” for the 10th Hunger Games. He is assigned Lucy Gray Baird, a girl from District 12. This encounter profoundly shapes Snow’s life. He does everything to secure her victory. In the process, she faces tough choices between her ideals, the harsh reality of Panem, and her ambition. Tom Bryce’s portrayal strikes a balance between human vulnerability and a ruthless drive to succeed. This duality foreshadows Snow’s rise to dictatorship.
The arena in the film feels brutal, much like ancient Rome’s Colosseum, and shows how the Hunger Games have changed over time.
Previous Hunger Games series games were held in a large forest, with elaborate mechanisms that excited viewers. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes games were like gladiatorial battles held in a coliseum.
The early Hunger Games take place in a smaller, rougher arena, which makes the violence feel even more raw and shows how the event started to become a spectacle.
Still, some moments made me wonder, ‘Wait, can they really do that?!’ For example, they release snakes just to make the games more thrilling.
The shifting rules and experimental spectacle of the early Hunger Games highlight how the event’s brutal system evolved over time.
“What I want to say is that the Hunger Games death game is too short!”
The heroine’s singing voice and strength as a new game player
The appeal of the new heroine, Lucy Gray (Rachel Zegler), lies in the fact that she is not just a “girl who needs to be saved.” She is a member of the wandering music group “Covey” in District 12, and her singing voice captivates the hearts of people, adding a poetic touch to the entire story. The songs she occasionally sings in the arena serve not only as entertainment but also symbolise resistance to Panem society and the longing for freedom.
Lucy’s charm lies in her calmness even inside the brutal arena. She uses her wisdom and singing to survive, showing her indomitable spirit. Her singing stirs emotions and highlights the influence of music. Lucy is never simply Snow’s puppet. She acts on her own beliefs and emotions, which deeply move Snow. Her presence brings out his humanity and prompts him to reflect on his actions. At the same time, she becomes an obstacle to his ambition and accelerates his growing cruelty.
President Snow’s inner self and descent into darkness
Snow helps Lucy grow emotionally by serving as her mentor and participating in the games. As their relationship changes, it becomes a key moment in the story. When Lucy betrays him—or seems to—it’s shown as one of the reasons Snow starts down a darker path, which affects the rest of the series.
If the protagonist is named Coriolanus Snow, this allusion suggests the film explores the complexities of leadership, contempt for the people, and political destiny.
Shakespeare’s tragedy “Coriolanus”
William Shakespeare’s Coriolanus portrays the tragic story of the legendary Roman general Gaius Marcius Coriolanus. He earned the nickname “Coriolanus” through his brilliant military exploits on the battlefield, but his arrogant personality and contempt for the common people led to his exile from his hometown of Rome.
Driven by a desire for revenge, Coriolanus joins forces with his former enemies and marches on Rome. However, he is moved by his mother’s desperate pleas and calls off the attack. This decision is seen as treason, and he ultimately loses his life. This story delves deeply into the complexities of heroes, as well as the interplay between politics and human nature.
What if Snow, like Coriolanus, started out as a revolutionary leader but got tired of people’s selfishness and ended up thinking that being a dictator was the only way? That’s one way to look at his story.
If Snow really believed in rejecting populism, maybe the Hunger Games would seem even more serious and meaningful, not just a fight to the death.
Seen this way, the Hunger Games aren’t just about scaring people into obedience. They could also be a warning to those in power that peace won’t last if things don’t change.
Summary: No prior knowledge of the series is necessary! A young man confronts power and fragility
The film examines how Snow evolves, the societal issues he faces, and what drives him to become a tyrant. It’s interesting for both fans and newcomers, showing Snow’s struggles and how Lucy Gray shapes his choices.
By understanding why President Snow acts the way he does and learning about his experiences, we can view the Hunger Games series in a new and deeper light. His work, which delves deeply into universal themes such as power, choice, and the fragility of humanity, offers many insights. We highly recommend watching this film to experience a new side of the Hunger Games world.
