An example of excellent mise en scene is in the hunger games; especially the makeup and costume department. The costume designer Judianna Makovsky did an incredible job portraying the culture of the different districts with their clothing. This is extremely relevant during the reaping at the beginning of the movie, where the capitol is introduced. An immediate contrast between the pure white uniforms and the dull grey tones of district 12 is created; which shows the huge divide between power and wealth. When Effie is first shown, her extravagant outfit clearly sets her apart from district 12 and tells magnitudes about her character at first glance. Her huge wig and luxurious purple outfit immediately show her as eccentric, wealthy, and obnoxious, which is the first impression the audience receives of the capitol’s people. First impressions of a character/group usually represent their core features and their role within the story, so in this case, the audience can infer that the capitol is the antagonist just from how they act.
The composition here is also incredibly significant, with the capitol officers front and high up, and the district 12 population low and behind. This visual hierarchy further reinforces the divide between them, emphasising the tone of fear and tension among district 12. They are packed tightly together similar to sheep in a pen surrounded by capitol officers, which creates a sense of captivity, thus implying how the capitol always has control.
