The Censorship Dilemma: How Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes Skirted an R-rating in Its Gritty Tale
The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes strikes a powerful balance, delivering a thrilling and intense storyline while maintaining a PG-13 rating – a testament to the creative team's skill in presenting a gripping yet accessible tale
The highly anticipated Hunger Games prequel film, The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, has arrived, and it skillfully avoids an R-rating while maintaining a PG-13 rating.
The prequel, set before the events of the Hunger Games series, follows the story of 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow. He is the last hope for his fading lineage and is faced with the task of mentoring Lucy Gray Baird from District 12 in the 10th annual Hunger Games. Together, they navigate the high-stakes world of showmanship and politics, racing against time to uncover who can be trusted and who cannot.
Our four-star review of the movie highlights the portrayal of violence, which does not shy away from the brutality of the Capitol or the kill-or-be-killed nature of the Games. The younger appearance of the cast further reinforces the central message of the franchise. However, it is important to note that such levels of violence, particularly when involving children, may receive criticism.
Every Hunger Games movie has been rated-R at first – including Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
Dexerto interviewed Francis Lawrence and Nina Jacobson, the director and producer of The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes. We talked about the film's overall violence and the preparation of the tribute actors for the games.
Lawrence explained that when it comes to depicting violence, there are two aspects to consider. Suzanne Collins has written these thematically rich books for teenagers without holding anything back. However, it is important to strike a balance between creating intense scenes and avoiding excessive violence in order to maintain a rating suitable for a teenage audience.
Lawrence's approach is to focus on the emotional impact of violence rather than showcasing explicit blood and gore. This way, he aims to maintain intensity without crossing the line that would result in an R-rating and potentially alienate the target audience.
In his experience, the Hunger Games movies have often initially received R-ratings, requiring collaboration with the Ratings Board to tone down certain aspects without diluting the overall impact.
Jacobson further expressed that in order for the books to truly convey their themes and complement the movies, the story being portrayed cannot be toned down. She firmly believes that it would be entirely misguided and inappropriate to mask or embellish the harsh reality of the Hunger Games.
“And simultaneously, we aim to avoid exploitation and the same sins as the Capitol. Our goal is to engage a wide audience. It was inevitable that we would receive a PG-13 rating, and we were willing to do whatever necessary to achieve it.”
Regarding the preparation of the actors for their characters who must fight to survive, Lawrence added, "As for the actors, the younger cast members particularly embraced it. Given their experience with a popular series, they were already familiar with the stories. We began with the Games, and they all participated in some training and learned choreography. They enthusiastically embraced the physicality, performing their own stunts and getting dirty."
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is in cinemas November 17. Check out our other Hunger Games coverage below:
Editor's P/S
As a passionate fan of The Hunger Games series, I was thrilled to hear that a prequel film, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, was in the works. I was even more excited when I learned that the film would be rated PG-13, making it accessible to a wider audience.
I believe that the filmmakers made the right decision in giving The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes a PG-13 rating. The film is certainly violent, but it is not gratuitous or excessive. The violence is essential to the story, and it is portrayed in a way that is both realistic and thought-provoking.
The film does not shy away from the brutality of the Hunger Games, but it also shows the human cost of violence. We see the characters suffer both physically and emotionally, and we are forced to confront the consequences of their actions.
I think that The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a powerful film that will resonate with fans of the Hunger Games series and newcomers alike. The film is a reminder of the dangers of violence and the importance of hope. I highly recommend it.
