7. Katniss' Awareness Of The Cameras
From her internal perspective in the novel, Katniss is constantly considering how she is perceived. There is a clear divide between the appearance and reality of Katniss actions. From catching the moonlight with her face to smirking after a close encounter, Katniss carefully constructs the image she provides viewers in the Districts. She manipulates their expectations and pulls at their heartstrings to accomplish her goals. This is crucial throughout the trilogy as Katniss struggles to maintain her identity under the pressures of Capitol and, later, the rebels. The film, however, strips Katniss of her self-awareness. She looks lost in situations, failing to recognize how she is perceived. For example, after hearing a mechanical squeak from a tree in the arena, Katniss panics, eyeing a hole and trying to spot the source. A face of uncertainty plasters the screen in the Gamemakers headquarters, highlighting Katniss lack of awareness. In the novel, she is constantly conscious of the cameras, altering her emotions to maintain control over her image. As a central theme in the novel, Katniss never wants to become another piece in their games. This drive is what makes her character so compelling. By manipulating the viewers perception of her on the screen, Katniss uses the voice of Capitol against itself, asserting her marginalised identity within it. But the film diminishes this voice, ironically taking control of Katniss identity and subjecting it to the terms of the Games.