Donald Sutherland: "'The Hunger Games' could be the most influential American ...
Sutherland plays President Snow, the ruler of this allegorical universe of hi-tech haves and village-dwelling have-nots. “Oh, what Gary Ross did to that script,” enthuses Sutherland. “It was, without any question, one of the most beautiful, inspiring scripts that I’ve read.”
Sutherland is easily roused to passion in either direction, positive or negative, especially when explicating on a subject. “Just before shooting began, Gary added three scenes set in the Presidential Rose Garden that make lucid the concept of an oligarchy, of the privileged, of the hegemony of the Panem over the rest of the states…” He breaks off abruptly, scratching the back of his hands. “I think I’ve eaten something that I’m allergic to. My skin is burning.” Before I can offer any assistance, he’s right back into college professor mode.
“When I read it, I thought it had the possibility to be the most influential American film since I can’t remember. What we’re dealing with is the destroyed fabric of a once-upon-a-time empire. And the empire is obviously here.” He says the parallels between the film’s heroine, Katniss Everdeen (played by Jennifer Lawrence), and Joan of Arc are extraordinary. “I went back to Shaw and the introduction that he did for Saint Joan. Do you remember it?”
