Anyone who thinks that this is the prequel to four movies Hunger Games trilogy — all based on Suzanne Collins’ bestselling novels — might find themselves bemused. This time we focus on the winning side in Panem’s bloody civil war, with a thoughtful and fascinating character study of the saga’s central antagonist, the future president.
We jump ahead 10 years to the annual event, which pits two children from each district that lost against one another for a fight-to-the death. But the particulars of the competition are still evolving and, in an effort to keep the sport ongoing, eager students like young Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth) are each assigned to mentor a sacrificial “tribute” and devise ways to increase viewership.
Snow’s experiences in the privileged capital are only one part of his journey however, and his ensuing stretch in the districts will prove equally formative. The story is unapologetically complicated and takes a lot of time to build the world in this unique cinematic Universe, even though there are no more installments announced.
The costumes, production and other aspects of these films have always been intriguing.
