The Hunger Games director, Gary Ross, explains the meaning behind the tragic death of Rue, a District 11 tribute in Katniss’ first Games.

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.

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 Matter protests, which forced America to take a harsh look at the way it was reacting to the deaths of its Black citizens. Katniss’s chilling tribute to Rue, and her defiance of the Gamemakers in order to do so, sends a powerful message about how important it is to honor the life of an individual once they’ve passed, to show that their life matters. The way Ross captured the moment on film left little doubt that he and the screenwriters understood the gravity and sincerity of Rue’s murder.

Though it has been ten years since The Hunger Games’ release, its fascinating messages about capitalism, consumerism, propaganda and war are still very much present in society. Netflix’s Squid Game, which explored similar themes, recently became the most popular show of all time for the streamer. Rue’s death is one of many aspects of the 2012 dystopian blockbuster that, while they center fictional characters, pack a too-real and urgent punch for a number of viewers.

More: Hunger Games: Why Madge Gave Katniss The Mockingjay Pin

Source: THR