Catching Fire: How to Write Emotion into an Action Film A film analysis of Catching Fire (2013) Written by Bridget Raymundo1,2,3,4 Department of English, 2Women and Gender Studies Institute, 3Book and Media Studies, University of Toronto 4 Third-year undergraduate of Victoria College, University of Toronto
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Amidst an era of revolution—of pandemics and protests and even killer hornets in North America, the rebirth of Hunger Games enthusiasts seems fitting. When quarantine initially hit, many people returned to the beloved adaptations; particular the 2013 sequel, Catching Fire. The film became certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes seven years on and a fanbase re-emerged on Twitter to discuss the various reasons why they loved this series so much. What elevates this story in comparison to its predecessor is the change in director and an overall more mature approach to the script. For instance, the emphasis of the first film is on a theme of innocence and youth; whereas, in their second arena the starcrossed teenagers are dealing with experienced killers. Therefore, the tone of this story has to evolve because Katniss and Peeta are no longer naïve to the system of the Capitol. The film is divided into three acts: The Victory Tour, training for the Quarter Quell, and the 75th games. Each of these sections builds in tension and scale than the previous, as the characters are given more complexity and their relationships intensify under the backdrop of a killing competition. Concentrating primarily on the third act, the games themselves, the focus of the film becomes action based. The script necessarily becomes open-ended in places, leaving room for camera direction stunt coordination, and special effects. The small quantity of dialogue then becomes amplified by the greater action sequences of this film because they are so rare and because characters are only speaking to each other when it is most important.
Hinting the Rebellion & Establishing Emotion Catching Fire begins by dealing with the trauma Katniss now lives with as a result of the previous games. While she desires to return to her “normal” life, she is immediately confronted with the hope she has sparked amongst the districts. In the first act, Snow visits Katniss and says, “If a girl from District 12 of all places can defy the Capitol and walk away unharmed, what is to prevent [the other districts] from doing the same?” (Catching Fire 8:11:00). Snow’s question becomes the thesis upon which the film is built as it foreshadows the rebellion brewing right under his nose. Little hints that a war is coming are interspersed through what Katniss sees in the other districts. And yet, despite Katniss’ curiosity, it is revealed by Haymitch at the end of the film that she was kept in the dark about everyone’s plan to rebel: “We couldn’t tell you with Snow watching. It was too risky” (Catching Fire 2:13:04). This reveal adds meaning to every action and interaction Katniss has with each of her allies in the games that is not Peeta. Most notably, when the morphling sacrifices herself to save Peeta from the mutts. The other tributes go out of their way to protect Katniss and Peeta because they are aiding in this brewing rebellion. This foreshadowing by the other victors is not made obvious to the audience because they observe the secondary characters through the perspective of Katniss—they are made to feel as in the dark as she is. Katniss’ motive throughout the games is to protect the people she loves; in other words, what drives her actions are her emotional ties to people. As a result, her motivation distracts the viewer from the bigger rebellion at play. Screenwriters’ Perspectives Vol. 2 No. 1 2021
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