In a story, you can turn to the front and begin again and everyone lives once more. That doesn't work in real life. And I love my real people the most.
When we read dystopia, we root for these people to break free because we are these people; hoping and fighting against things that are bigger than ourselves.
So much of life is in the smallness of moments...but they are harder to mark. So we need the grander celebrations and occasions. People like to feel significant.