Debriefing The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2023)
“She’s not a rebel... she’s just a girl.” - Tigris Snow
I love being a preteen (21) talking about The Hunger Games on my Tumblr (Substack) and reblogging all my favorite things (saving video edits on IG).
Speaking of! My close friends story is where I post more about what I’m watching (includes said edits), music I’m listening to, and basically the daily version of The Viv Laugh Love Diaries. DM me your favorite pink emoji to be added 💖
Liz & I finally got to see The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Here are some thoughts I had during the movie, but expanded upon.
Corio
I went through all the stages of grief in two hours with having a crush on Coriolanus Snow. The daddy issues too bruh, he was doomed from the start. Never give the white guy a gun. This is what happens.
Coriolanus wanted power. The first time we really see this exposed is after Coriolanus kills Bobbin from District 8 when Coriolanus and Sejanus sneak into the arena. He admits that killing Bobbin himself felt powerful. Throughout the story, he continues to chase this need for control. To the point where he sacrifices his friends, Lucy Gray, and his past self to retain his power.
One of my favorite moments is when Highbottom and Coriolanus are talking early on in the games, and Highbottom tells Coriolanus something along the lines of, “the prizes versus the girl.” Coriolanus ultimately must make the decision between the prize or “the girl,” aka Lucy Gray. This really stuck with me when they were having this exchange because I feel like in these sorts of storylines, the writer (or audience, even) associates the prize being the girl or vice versa. However, in the case of Coriolanus or in other situations, these represent two very separate things. After Highbotttom brought up that point, my trust for Coriolanus was always on guard for the rest of the story, as I never knew his true intentions. This is what makes Coriolanus Snow such a complex character and a better villain.
“It’s the things we love most that destroy us.” - Coriolanus Snow
Tigris
Just another example of how women will pour so much effort into making a man into a better being, just for the man to be a horrible person in the end.
We get reintroduced to Tigris with a stark contrast to her appearance in Mockingjay. This prequel brings so much context to Tigris' stance and relationship with Snow in the main storyline. Before Coriolanus heads over to the reaping, she takes the time to tailor Coriolanus’ shirt. When Coriolanus comes home to talk about Lucy Gray after being assigned as her mentor, it’s Tigris who tells him to go visit her at the train when she arrives to properly introduce himself to her.
In front of her own eyes, she saw a little boy she loved, cared for, and helped raise, become a monster. She cannot hate him, but has to live that he will never really be on her side ever again.
In the final scenes when Coriolanus returns back to the Capitol, we see Tigris and Grandma’am again, this is a different Coriolanus they are seeing since he left after he was sent off. He comes in the room with his new look, back to Capitol life, and Tigris says –
“You look… just like your father, Coriolanus.” - Tigris Snow
She knows she lost him. Preparing herself for this new version of Snow, not knowing what may come with it for her or those around her.
Olivia Rodrigo & folk music in times like these
Right when the credits started rolling, I asked Liz if we could sit through the song. I’ve listened to “Can’t Stop Me Now” by Olivia Rodrigo twice before watching the movie. I liked it, but the lyrics didn’t fully hit me until the credits rolled.
Off the bat, I felt so numb. You automatically get placed in the shoes of Lucy Gray. I haven’t gotten the chance to read Olivia’s commentary on her experience writing the song, but the imagery is so vivid. In her documentary, OLIVIA RODRIGO: driving home 2 u, she expressed that she’s really inspired by the style of storytelling in country music. I definitely saw this inspiration come out in the lyricism for “Can’t Stop Me Now,” because within the pre-chorus, you automatically get taken back to the last scene we see of Lucy Gray and Coriolanus in the woods. Props to you, Olivia & Dan.
I love it when the ending credit song makes me sit there for a solid five minutes contemplating life ( for example: “What Was I Made For” by Billie Eilish).
But with this! I want to get into ties folk music has with this story, society, and a bunch of other things. BTW I’m talking about folk in mainstream charts. When I mention “revival,” I’m more so discussing the most prominent times we are seeing folk shining on said charts in shorter timespans. Obviously, folk (and country) as a whole has gained mass popularity over the past couple of decades, but I’m covering when certain events in the world lead to these peaks.
A decade ago, when the first wave of Hunger Games popularity hit, you had artists such as Mumford & Sons, The Lumineers, Of Monsters & Men on Top 40 radio constantly. Today, seeing the disheartening events in our world moving constantly, another wave of indie-folk is rising with artists such as Noah Kahan or a newfound appreciation for artists like Hozier, who are implementing important, relevant messaging in their writing.
“The American folk music revival that grew from the Post-WWII era to the Sixties was about more than just music: it wrapped in political activism, romantic visions of the self…”
- “The Folk Revival Revisited,” American Routes
Folk music brings people solace during hard times, whether it be in close quarters, or across the world. During the early months of COVID-19 in 2020, one of the first songs I learned when I was getting back into playing piano was “Safe and Sound” by Taylor Swift. Another time I see this happening is when a group of college kids gather with one guitar and just start singing together. There is comfort in the most “simple” form of music that brings people together and keeps them grounded in new, shaky, uncomfortable situations. There’s something about the music that reminds you of summer camp, bonfires, road trips, or singing in your room with a guitar that is healing.
One song that comes to me is “Dawns” by Zach Bryan & Maggie Rogers. If you haven’t listened to this song, please do. Spotify’s Mountain Air playlist features a good mix of new and 2010s folk if you’re looking for other examples. “All We Ever Knew” by The Head And The Heart is one I used for Chloé & Karla’s graduation video and every time it comes on shuffle, I get emotional.
Liz’s Debrief
Via text, and I quote 💬
“I wanna say that Lucy Gray was so strong to dip on him just like that because so many ppl today wouldn’t have dipped that easily or quickly
I wouldn’t have bc he so fine
And that part where the Reaper pays tribute to the ones who died in the arena was so powerful, and the way he accepts his death peacefully and quietly was respectable and impressive.”
Quotes I noted
“She’s not a rebel, Grandma'am. She’s just a girl.” - Tigris Snow
“I dont sing when I’m told. I sing when I have something to say.” - Lucy Gray Baird
“Mystery has a way of driving people mad.” - Casca Highbottom
Overall, I enjoyed revisiting the world of Panem and feeling like I was 12, reading the books for the first time. If you need me in the meantime, I’ll be watching edits of the movie. LMK if you want me to send you my favs! The ones to “Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd” are top tier.
TTYL
- Viv ❀
I’ve read this twice already!!! Something my friend and I were talking abt was Coriolanus being a good example of nature vs nurture (was he fated to become who he is) like considering the effect his dad had on him even after death and being the breadwinner, and the friendship with Sejanus and whether it was real… thoughts?