Wealth Rules Society In The Hunger Games, Directed By Gary Ross

In the film The Hunger Games, directed by Gary Ross, an overall theme is conveyed, that wealth rules society. Ross utilises carefully chosen content and effectively used production techniques to compare the Capitol with the Districts to demonstrate this theme throughout the film, particularly the establishing scenes, the hovercraft, and the reaping, whilst also highlighting similarities to real life.

The film opens with an interview, to create a contrast between the opulence of the Capitol and the poverty of the districts from the very beginning. The interview between Caesar Flickerman and Seneca Crane, the head game maker, features studio lighting and camera techniques typical of reality television. Dressed in expensive suits and immaculately styled hair, the extravagance of the Capitol is quickly evident, and a feeling of wealth and luxury is conveyed to viewers. This is juxtaposed with the poverty of District 12 when Ross abruptly cuts to the sound of Primrose Everdeen’s terrified scream and a shot of District
The film has many scenes of hovercraft, though the first sighting of the Capitol’s invention is when Katniss and Gale and hunting in the woods outside of the District 12 boundary. The low, menacing drone of the hovercraft is the first hint of danger, and causes Katniss and Gale to look to the sky in fear and see one of the Capitol’s large hovercrafts patrolling the area. Katniss and Gale are filmed from above, illustrating the hovercraft searching for them yet showing their insignificance. The rest of the scene is filmed from a handheld camera as they scramble to run and hide from the hovercraft, emphasising the rush and importance that Katniss and Gale get away and are not seen by the hovercraft. The Capitol’s wealth allows them to have such commodities to create fear and power over anyone else not bathing in their riches, controlling