Story
After being rescued by rebel forces at the end of Catching Fire (the second instalment in the Hunger Games series of movies), Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) is distraught and traumatised. She now lives with the rebels in an underground stronghold beneath the ruins of District 13. Also living with the rebels are Katniss’s friends Gale Hawthorne (Liam Hemswoth), Finnick Odair (Sam Claflin), Haymitch Abernathy (Woody Harrelson) and Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks). President Snow (Donald Sutherland) is holding Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) and several other surviving Hunger Games participants hostage.
As a result of Katniss’s defiance of the Capitol and President Snow, the workers of other districts have begun to band together and rebel. To inspire this rebellion, the rebel leader, President Alma Coin (Julianne Moore), convinces Katniss to act as a symbol and rallying point. She is to become the ‘Mockingjay’.
Katniss and her friends set off to make propaganda videos in several of the districts destroyed by President Snow’s troops. During filming, bomber planes sent from the Capitol attack Katniss and her film crew. Katniss, ever defiant, fights back.
President Snow also sends out bombers to destroy the rebels’ underground fortress, while the rebels simultaneously send a team into the heart of the Capitol to rescue Peeta and other hostages. Katniss now discovers the true horror of President Snow’s revenge against her.
Themes
Tyranny and oppression; rebellion; mass murder; propaganda and brainwashing; hostages
Violence
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 contains some intense sequences of realistic violence that are likely to disturb some viewers. These include public executions and war scenes with a high body count. There are also constant references to violence, including hanging, poisoning and torture. For example:
Sexual references
Mockingjay Part 1 has some sexual references. For example:
- A young woman refers to losing a baby.
- A young man says, ‘President Snow used to sell me, or my body at least’.
Alcohol, drugs and other substances
Mockingjay Part 1 shows some use of substances. For example:
- There are several references to a man being a recovering alcoholic.
- A recovering alcoholic asks a young woman if she has any drugs.
- We hear how a man was tortured by being given hallucinogenic venom.
Nudity and sexual activity
None of concern
Product placement
There is no product of placement in Mockingjay Part 1 itself, but associated merchandise is being marketed to children and teenagers.
Coarse language
There is no coarse language of concern, apart from name-calling such as ‘criminals’, ‘cave dwellers’, ‘coward’, ‘snake’ and so on.
Ideas to discuss with your children
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 is a science fiction action adventure movie based on the Hunger Games series of books.
Mockingjay Part 1 is the third instalment in this series of movies and is darker and more political than its predecessors. It focuses on revolution and the overthrow of the Capitol rather than the violent reality games involving children killing children. The movie does, however, contain some intense violence and disturbing images, and Katniss is presented as unhappy and traumatised. For this reason, this movie is not suitable for children under 13 years, and we strongly recommend parental guidance for children aged 13-15 years.
These are the main messages from this movie:
- There is no victory without compromise.
- Never give up; never give in.
- Symbols can inspire mass movements.
You might also want to talk with your children about self-sacrifice and how many of the characters place their love for others above their own needs and wants, even to the point of sacrificing their own lives.