Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games universe has once again taken the world by storm with the release of the theatrical film”The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.” Released on November 17th, this long-awaited prequel brings to life the chilling backstory of President Snow and the pivotal but hidden 10th Hunger Games. Directed by Francis Lawrence and starring Tom Blyth and Rachel Zegler in the main roles, “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” successfully transports the audience to pre-Katniss Panem, the country the story takes place, reeling from a revolution and grappling with its own brutality. With a thrilling story and intense performances, “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” proves to be a masterpiece and a worthy predecessor to the beloved trilogy.
The film follows the life of young Coriolanus Snow, an ambitious Capitol man aiming to be President of Panem. Panem is a post-apocalyptic North America which has been divided into 12 districts. The Hunger Games is an annual event orchestrated by the ruling government known as the Capitol where two tributes from each district are forced to fight to the death in a televised arena. Snow becomes the mentor to District 12’s tribute, Lucy Gray Baird, a singer part of a traveling group called the Covey. From there, we begin to witness her game, their budding romance, and later, Snow’s descent into becoming a power-hungry tyrant. The film takes into account the character of Lucy Gray and incorporates beautiful folk music, which helped drive the story and enchant audiences.
“The musical element of the movie gave it a much lighter vibe,” Lambert sophomore Ananya Sunkari said. “The music helped make the film easier to watch and really toned down how dark the film was.”
The use of folk music in the film draws onto the Appalachian ancestry of Lucy Gray Baird and draws parallels between the original trilogy through the use of “The Hanging Tree,” originally written by Lucy Gray for Snow. With songs like “Nothing You Can Take from Me,” the film seems upbeat even as the characters face an unimaginable reality. The Hunger Games has always been known for the nightmarish dystopian world it presents and the commentary it makes on our own world. However, unlike the original trilogy, “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” utilizes theatrics and music to make that commentary not only more palatable but also remind us that we view this story through Snow’s perspective. Snow, unlike Katniss, sees the horrors of the world around him and struggles with his own morality. As he falls deeper into madness and depravity, he embraces the theatrics, the overconsumption and the need to cover something so ugly with beauty. This complex character is magnificently played by Tom Blyth who manages to be charming but also seem conniving at the appropriate time.
“I thought the cast was perfect.” Sunkari said. “Considering we don’t get any inner thoughts or dialogues of Snow, I loved how we could slowly see him turning darker and evil.”
To that end, almost each and every character had a depth to them that was portrayed with ease by the cast. Rachel Zegler as Lucy Gray Baird is likable and free spirited, so it’s easy to root for her both in the arena and beyond. Viola Davis’ performance as Dr. Gaul, head game maker, is chilling and creates an eerie sense of fear whenever she’s on screen. The cast brings life to the story with wonderful performances.
With such a remarkable storyline and great portrayals, it comes as no surprise that the movie is garnering so much praise and acclaim. With a worldwide gross of $197.2 million, the film is already an absolute success. “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” makes its own mark while maintaining the spirit of the original series and is a perfect closer for this year. It is a definite must watch and for anyone planning to go see it, may the odds be ever in your favor.
