“The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1” is the first installment of the adaptation of Suzanne Collin’s final book in “The Hunger Games” series. From a screenplay by Danny Strong and Peter Craig and directed by Francis Lawrence (who directed “Catching Fire” as well), “The Mockingjay Part 1” successfully builds the foundation for the final war. The war that would see Jennifer Lawrence’s Katniss Everdeen go head to head against President Snow’s Capitol forces.
The revolution has been inevitable to us from our very first introduction to the world of Panem. And now it is upon us. Part 1 places the characters in their final positions before the ultimate showdown in Part 2. Once again, Jennifer Lawrence leads a highly talented cast. The emotionally driven film is rich with political fallacies. The love between Katniss and Peeta does not overshadow the essence of the film, but it remains the cornerstone of the series.
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 (2014) Plot Summary & Movie Synopsis:
“The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” ended with Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence), Finnick (Sam Claflin), and Beetee (Jeffrey Wright) getting rescued by the rebel party. Haymitch (Woody Harrelson) and Effie (Elizabeth Banks) were shown to be involved in the plan, which was spearheaded by the Gamemaker, Plutarch (Philip Seymour Hoffman). Using the stolen hovercraft, the rebel party takes Katniss to the bastion of the rebels, District 13. However, there was one small drawback in this entire plan. Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) was left behind. Katniss was devastated as she knew President Snow (Donald Sutherland) would make Peeta pay the price for this insubordination.
In the present day, Katniss is living a safe but disturbed life in District 13. The thought of leaving Peeta at the hands of President Snow is eating her from the inside. The silver lining is that she is united with her family and Gale (Liam Hemsworth). Arranged by Plutarch, Katniss meets President Alma Coin (Julianne Moore), the leader of the rebellion. Coin asks her to be the ‘Mockingjay,’ the face of the rebellion. At first, Katniss refuses. But, that night, a broadcast from the capitol shows Peeta, on behalf of the Capitol, asking people not to side with the rebels.
Also, Read: The Hunger Games (2012) Movie Ending Explained: Are Katniss and Peeta in Danger Now?
Katniss immediately understands Peeta is forced to say these. She agrees to be the Mockingjay on one condition: that President Coin would pardon Peeta for his supposed part in the Capitol’s side. Subsequently, Katniss is asked to shoot a propaganda video to stir up more support for the revolution. However, Katniss could not act well enough to make her feel convincing. Haymitch asks Plutarch that Katniss should visit one of the places of the rebellion, District 8.
A shooting crew is assigned to Katniss, and Gale, who has joined the rebellion military, accompanies Katniss for her visit to District 8. The military team is led by Colonel Boggs (Mahershala Ali). Katniss sees the devastation caused by the Capitol as she tends to the wounded. President Snow immediately sanctions an airstrike, having been notified of Katniss’ presence in the District. Unfortunately, the airstrike decimitates the hospital, killing civilians. An enraged Katniss shoots one of the fighter planes down and passionately addresses President Snow, saying, “If we burn, you burn with us.” Obviously, the entire sequence is captured by the shooting crew.
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 (2014) Movie Ending Explained:
Does Katniss Love Peeta?
Katniss’ actions and her words, captured by the film crew in District 8, act as the perfect propaganda video. This spurs the other districts to join the rebellion. Rebels in District 5 destroyed the dam that is the source of Capitol’s hydroelectric energy. This renders the Capitol electricity-less. The Capitol once again has Peeta deliver a video message asking for ‘peace.’ However, the rebels interject that broadcast, thanks to Beetee’s technical prowess, with Katniss’ video in the ruins of District 12. Peeta is understandably shocked to see Katniss and the ruins of District 12. As if triggered by this, he shouts a warning that President Snow has already sent air forces to attack District 13. Peeta is immediately gagged in the middle of that broadcast and is taken off-air.
Josh Hutcherson in The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 (2014)Peeta’s warning saves most of the District 13 inhabitants, as they can take shelter inside the safety bunkers as bombs rain upon them. Katniss immediately understands that Peeta will again pay the price for their safety. There is no doubt Katniss loves Peeta. Despite Katniss’ persistent feelings towards Gale, she could not help but feel a connection with Peeta. In fact, it is organic and perhaps cannot be labeled. Moreover, it is understandably agonizing for Katniss to see Peeta appear on screen, with deteriorating health, to do President Snow’s bidding.
Why Did President Snow Allow Peeta to Leave?
Peeta’s warning saved the rebels and convinced President Coin that Peeta had never sided with the Capitol. She orchestrates a rescue mission to free Peeta and other captured tributes from the previous games. Of course, the rescue team includes Gale. Beetee has another rebel propaganda broadcast, featuring Finnick jam the Capitol’s communication channel. This gives the rescue team the perfect opportunity to infiltrate.
When Finnick’s video does not seem to buy enough time, Katniss asks Beetee to broadcast her as she speaks directly to President Snow. Katniss hopes to buy more time for the rescue team with this. After some time, President Snow does appear to address Katniss. To Katniss’ horror, he says that he is aware of the rebel party’s rescue mission. But Gale’s team faces no difficulty in rescuing the tributes, including Peeta. It appears that the Capitol wanted the rescue mission to be successful. Why? Well, that becomes clear when Peeta’s first interaction with Katniss results in Peeta attacking Katniss and trying to strangle her to death.
Why Did Peeta Try to Kill Katniss?
Although, at first, it seems that Peeta might have switched allegiance, it will prove to not be the case. After Colonel Boggs knocks Peeta down, thus saving Katniss’ life, the rebel experts like Plutarch and Beetee examine Peeta thoroughly. When Katniss wakes up, they tell her that Peeta’s mind has been ‘hijacked.’ The venom from tracker-jackers (which caused Katniss to hallucinate in her first Hunger Games) is used on Peeta to scramble his mind, making him think of Katniss as a threat. This ‘hijacking’ process is based on fear, pushing Peeta to give in to the basest of emotions, which, at this moment, is the fear of Katniss.
Plutarch assures Katniss that they will be able to reverse it. But, Beetee warns Katniss that is most difficult as Peeta would have to fight hard not to give in to his fears. As President Coin addresses the rest of District 13, claiming that the rescue mission has been successful, Katniss watches a restrained Peeta thrashing and writhing in agony in a solitary hospital room. Naturally, it kills her to see the boy she loves being in that much pain.
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