The Hunger Games Director Explains Meaning Behind Rue’s Death Scene
Gary Ross, director of The Hunger Games, has explained the meaning behind the infamous death scene for Rue in the young adult blockbuster. The first Hunger Games film, officially having been released ten years ago, marked an iconic turning point in Hollywood history. It launched a saga that would go on to gross nearly $3 billion in revenue across its four films.
The death of Rue, a District 11 tribute who Katniss befriends during her time in the arena, is a scene that sparked quite a bit of controversy. Intense backlash to the casting of Amandla Stenberg in the role caused certain fans’ apathy to her death. This flew directly in the face of the fact that the character’s book description matched her on-screen appearance. Stenberg went on to address the backlash, not only on social media but in her own work, such as 2018’s social justice flick, The Hate U Give, also based on a young adult novel.
Related: What Josh Hutcherson Has Done Since The Hunger Games
Ross, who was interviewed by THR to mark The Hunger Games’ ten-year anniversary, spoke to the meaning of the chilling scene. Ross stated that he felt it was very important to "honor this girl" and "observe her life," while also acknowledging that the arena is "not a game," and the importance of memorializing a human life. Check out the full quote below:
“Jennifer and I talked about it a lot. I really wanted the film to pause at that moment and honor this girl — to observe her life. And by interrupting the rhythm of the movie and pausing to observe this memorial, you are saying something about the value of a human life. It’s not a game, and we will stop this game in order to honor her.”
Ross’ words certainly ring true, particularly in light of 2020’s harrowing Black Lives
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