The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

     The movie I choose to watch for the Bechdel Test was the second movie of the Hunger Games: Catching Fire. The movie begins when Katniss Everdeen has returned back to her district after winning the 74th Annual Hunger Games along with her partner in the Games, Peeta Mellark. President Snow visits Katniss, explaining that what she has done in the Games has created many riots throughout the districts. He tells her that she must use her victory tour to try and convince everyone that her actions in the Games were because she really loved Peeta, not against the Capitol. Katniss suggests a public engagement between her and Peeta. President Snow comes up with a special Hunger Games, the Third Quarter Quell. All the Tributes will be picked from the previous winners of each district. Katniss and Peeta represent District 12 again in this film. Katniss has to do everything it takes for Peeta to survive. President Snow hopes that Katniss will betray and kill the other tributes to stay alive, and eventually make herself unpopular to the public. However, she and Peeta make peace with a couple others from different districts as they try to survive the Games.

     I believe that this movie does pass the Bechdel Test. In the movie, Katniss is the lead character and there are a few other female characters. Katniss is able to speak with a few other female characters one-on-one, and most of those conversations do not focus on a male. In the beginning of the movie, Prim and Katniss talk about their family, how things are changing and how to stay hopeful. Prim assures Katniss that she can take care of herself and her mother while Katniss goes on her Victory Tour. Katniss and Effie talk about how unfair it is that she has to go back to the Games and Effie tells her how sorry she is and Katniss thanks her. There is also a scene between Katniss and Mags teaching each other their skills. Mags is mute but she gestures with her hands and with facial expressions but they still are able to communicate with one another. Katniss and Johanna talk about another Hunger Games winner named Annie, and Katniss and Wiress talk about the shape of the arena.

     I had a hard time deciding if this movie was considered feminist or not. Sometimes I think it is but I honestly think it is not. Katniss is the main character but there is a balance between male and female characters throughout the entire movie. Katniss is seen as very great hunter, courageous and she does whatever it takes in order to keep her family safe. She does not enjoy dressing up but throughout different scenes in the beginning she is forced to look presentable and lady-like (she wears a dress and has a ton of make-up on) so that she can look like a girl for everyone to see. President Snow is a male and is seen as the leader and the districts must obey him and his rules. Both male and female characters have many different skills to do what it takes in order to survive in this movie so that kind of evens things out. Katniss had to also depend on the men in her little friend group, Peeta, Finnick, and Beetee as they all had to work together to survive.

By: Trina Nett