I have a confession to make: I have never read The Hunger Games. Here’s another confession: prior to last week, I had never seen the film, either. Now that the DVD is readily-available (for $19.99 on indigo.ca until August 26th!), I was able to get my hands on the film, and finally watch it. I'm glad I did!

Warning, spoilers ahead.

The Hunger Games is based on the best-selling book series by Suzanne Collins. It takes place in a post-apocalyptic version of North America called Panem, in which the Capitol forces each of its 12 Districts to send one teenage girl and boy to compete in the Hunger Games, a brutal, nationally-televised fight to the death. Our heroes, Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta (Josh Hutcherson), are sent up from District 12 and are taught that surviving the Hunger Games takes more than just physical prowess, it takes a sharp wit. With help from their mentor, Haymitch (Woody Harrelson), they learn that the key to winning is sponsorship, and that in order to win sponsors, you need to stand out and that means putting on a show.  The most interesting parts of the film were those in which Katniss and Peeta chose to do things that were out of character in order to gain leverage in the Hunger Games.

Peeta seems to understand this dynamic immediately, putting on a charming mask that instantly puts him over with the host of the Hunger Games. Despite the fact that he's in a fight to the death with 23 other teenagers including Katniss (who he’s in love with) he jokes around in live interviews . As the film progresses, Katniss also gets the hang of this balancing act, even going so far as to reciprocate Peeta's love for her on national television. It's obvious that she isn't in love with him, but the image of being "star crossed lovers" is too great an opportunity for them to pass up, and it does indeed garner them favour with sponsors who end up sending them healing balms and other care packages during the tournament.

One of the main themes of the film revolves around public identity vs. private identity. How should celebrities act when they're in front of the camera? Should they change their persona in an effort to please their public? In a day and age where celebrities are publically chastised for making very human mistakes, The Hunger Games is a reminder of the pressures of living in the limelight. It's a blockbuster with a brain - a film that takes our obsession with celebrity and reality television, and exaggerates them until you begin to ask yourself what the point of it all really is. Why are the citizens of the Capitol so obsessed with the lives of the teenagers in the Hunger Games? Why are they so keen on watching them go through this hellish contest? The answer lies in our reasons for our own cultural obsessions.

I highly recommend this film to the five people who haven't seen it. The rest of you may want to give it another watch. There's more going on here than meets the eye. And yes, I'll certainly be picking up the books.

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Purchase The Hunger Games at indigo.ca today!