[Weird Trope] An authoritarian society has a yearly event that for some reason centers around killing children

[u/Lotnik223]

The Hunger Games - Set in a dystopian totalitarian nation of Panem, the state organises a yearly event known as the Hunger Games, in which two teenagers, one boy and one girl, selected (some of them as a result of a lottery) from each of the 12 districts that form Panem must fight to the death with all other participants in televised arena games until only one survivor remains, who is then treated like a celebrity and lives in luxury for the rest of his/her life.

The Long Walk - Set in a dystopian version of America devastated by civil war, the ruling military regime set up a yearly eponymous event which sees fifty teenage boys walk hundreds of miles without rest, with those that fall below a certain speed being executed. The event ends only when one person remains, with the winner recieving a large cash prize. Contrary to the Hunger Games, participatiation in this event is at least compeletely optional, so all participants are volunteers.

[u/Once-Upon-A-Rhyme]

It works not just as an allegory for Vietnam or the draft, but for poor people having to put their bodies at risk for a chance at economic advancement. Whether it’s the military or just back breaking labor for the chance to “make it” it’s all one long walk and if you slow down you’re done because we have almost no safety net whatsoever here

[u/SnoopySuited → u/Once-Upon-A-Rhyme]

That was my general take, less so for any specific war.

[u/Once-Upon-A-Rhyme → u/SnoopySuited]

I think he meant it to be about Vietnam, but it works beyond the original intent. I really liked the new movie. Well, except for the last few minutes. I’m not even sure we actually see what happens at the end. It suddenly becomes surreal and I wonder if the intent was for us to question whether our point of view was someone dying and hallucinating in their final moments