Sympathy For The Characters In The Film 'The Hunger Games'

How did the author of your chosen text use techniques to cause you to sympathise with the characters?

Director Gary Ross’s highly successful science-fiction-romance film, The Hunger Games based on Suzanne Collin’s bestseller novel trilogy, is a story about struggle and hardships due to the misuse of power. The director uses camera techniques, sound, and lighting to evoke the audience’s sympathy to the characters. The Hunger Games is a televised programme that requires males and females between the ages of 12-18 to fight to the death and only one person can win. In the beginning of the film the protagonist’s best friend, Gale Hawthorne shares his hatred towards the games, “You root for your favourite, you cry when they get killed. It’s sick.”

Ross uses music and camera techniques to bring sympathy towards the characters. When 12 year old Rue is stubbed through the stomach, an extreme close up shots is used to capture the fatal wound and also the distraught expressions of the protagonist character, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence). While holding Rue in her arms, Katniss attempts to hold back her tears while whispering “You’re okay. You’re okay” to dying Rue. As tears run down Rue’s face, sorrowful music plays in the background to drive the audience to sympathise the two characters and their plight. Rue encourages Katniss to win The Hunger Games, then asks her to sing. Katniss chants a song that she sang to her younger sister, Primrose Everdeen, whenever she had nightmares. At this point the camera switches to the perspective of Rue and as she slowly loses consciousness, the camera goes in and out of focus before going white. Ross then lingers on the moment by capturing a close up shot of deceased Rue with her eyes wide open, then Katniss slowly closes them. As the music fades out, the only sound that is audible is of Katniss’s uncontrollable cry’s which slowly transform into screams of rage as she feels powerless and guilty for not being able to save Rue. With the use of camera techniques and music the audience are able to sympathise with the Katniss and Rue as well as

The opening sequence begins at a television studio with The Hunger Games host Caesar Flickman (Stanley Tucci) happily discussing the upcoming game with the head game maker, Seneca Crane (Wes Bentley) in the capital. Ross uses high-key lighting to showcase the elegance and wealth of the Capital. The use of costume also assists in emphasising the extravagance of the capital, Caesar Flickman is wearing glamorous make-up, and is dressed in a sparkly bright suit. The scene is then cut by a scream from Primrose Everdeen in District 12. Primrose awakes from a nightmare of her being chosen as the female Tribute of District 12. The use of juxtaposition between scenes puts a focus on how the adults in the Capital are excited to watch children fight to the death whilst the children in the Districts fear for their lives each day before the reaping. The director is able to manipulate the audience to hate the capital for its violence and cruelty towards the Districts but to also feel sympathy for the