Even if you have zero interest in “The Hunger Games,” it’s nearly impossible to escape the media hype surrounding its long-awaited premiere this Friday.
Based on a series of books by Suzanne Collins, the story is set in the future, where North America has become the nation of Panem and is comprised of 12 Districts. Due to a failed uprising by the Districts some 70 years earlier, the Capitol (which rules Panem) decided to punish all Districts by organizing the Hunger Games, a competition where one boy and one girl from each District (aged 12-18) are chosen to battle to the death until one child is left standing. The winning child (or tribute) receives all kinds of prizes, but more importantly, gets enough food and supplies to last a lifetime.
Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson star in the film as Katniss and Peeta, the tributes who represent District 12 in the Hunger Games. As part of their participation, these kids can get “sponsors,” and are given “escorts,” “prep teams” and yes, even “stylists” to help them through the process.
Enter Lenny Kravitz as Cinna, a stylist assigned to Katniss.
“He’s genuine. He’s a guy who’s stuck within a system, having to survive himself, but this is not his thing,” Kravitz told EURweb about his character. “He’d rather be free and designing and doing his thing, but he works for the Capitol. That’s his job, to create images for these kids who usually die.”
Kravitz compares Cinna to a doctor who deals with death everyday as just part of his profession.
“You have these patients, you have to get to know them, but it kills you every time somebody dies,” he explains. “How do you deal with that emotion of connecting and disconnecting? [Cinna] chooses to connect with Katniss. He sees something in her. He admires her. She’s the underdog, so he starts to speak to her, and he lets her know how he feels about her: ‘Hey, you’re going to make it. And I’m going to do everything I can do to help you make it.’” [Scroll down to watch a clip from this scene.]
Kravitz, the father of actress Zoe Kravitz with ex Lisa Bonet, explains how he and Jennifer Lawrence had developed a close relationship long before their “Hunger Games” characters did the same.
