A smaller character in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is brought to life by actress Jena Malone.
Okay, so Johanna isnt in many scenes, andCatching Fireis still very much Katnisss story.
But for such a minor character, its striking how much she leaps off the screen.
Johanna doesnt have many lines, and yet every single one lands.
Its her dialogue youll remember when youre walking out of the cinema.
Its a gorgeous moment, invented entirely by the filmmakers.
The line doesnt exist in the book, and that conversation shouldve been between Katniss and Peeta.
No one wins the Hunger Games, but there are survivors.
Its just that theyre all damaged, in different ways.
No wonder, then, that up until that point shes seemed so spiky and unpleasant.
When shes first introduced, shes aggressive, arrogant, and a little bit frightening.
But Johanna isnt like the Careers.
The other Victors seem to have responded with fear, or resignation, but not Johanna.
Johannas the first to get angry.
Really, really angry.
Its Johanna who first encourages her to stop trying to win him over and fight back.
Its a brief moment they share, but its an important one.
Its an amazing entrance, and its kind of surprising that it made it into the film.
Shes desperate to cast all of that off, to fight back, and reclaim whats hers.
Shes pretty awesome, in short.
ObviouslyThe Hunger Games: Catching Fireisnt a film thats going to fly under anyones radar.
(She even has the right initials, but, er, thats presumably just a coincidence.)
Anyone whos readMockingjaycan tell you that that doesnt end well.
Im packing my tissues already.
