How does a tyrant get to be, well, tyrannical?
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, the prequel to The Hunger Games trilogy, delves into the character of President Snow.
(In case you haven't seen/read the original Hunger Games series, Snow is a ruthless dictator. Don't let the title of "president" fool you.)
The new movie, based on the book by Suzanne Collins, takes place 64 years before the events in the trilogy. Here we meet Snow as a youth who's keeping up appearances despite his family's financial ruin.
But Snow has been given a chance to redeem his family name - and advance his career - when he's asked to mentor at the Hunger Games. Finally! Everyone will see how smart and capable he is!
Happily for Snow (and unhappily for everyone else), he knows how to scrutinize situations to realize his advantages. Not only that, he's a shrewd observer of human nature, which always helps when manipulating others.
These are skills that make for an efficient dictator, wouldn't you agree?
Even though Snow has a pet phrase ("Snow lands on top") he can't control everything - including his feelings.
Come to the Jewel to see how it plays out.
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes shows at Stettler's Jewel Theatre November 17-23. Please check jeweltheatre.ca for showtimes before arriving at the theatre. See you at the movies! Ruth