PROFILE

Still hungry after all to Pride & Prejudice to his latest star turn as these years, actor and President Snow in The Hunger Games trilogy. Indeed, a quick scan of his IMDB entry and icon Donald Sutherland you’re hard-pressed to “nd a year since 1962 that Sutherland hasn’t appeared in a “lm or is crossing borders and television show – and many years there are several entries. He’s a busy guy. generations By Kim Izzo The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1 is out this month. Sutherland portrays President KISSED DONALD SUTHERLAND. Coriolanus Snow who rules with ruthless vig- By accident. Or, rather, by miscal- our. In case you haven’t read the YA novels or culation. You see, he had already watched the “rst two “lms, The Hunger Games TRUE rolled up his pant leg and shown is set in a dystopian world called Panem, a me the scar from his knee replace- country consisting of the wealthy Capitol ment, so I took that to mean we had and 12 districts in varying states of poverty. bonded. When I reached for his Every year, children are chosen to participate hand to say goodbye, he held onto mine and in a compulsory annual televised death match leaned toward me. And as any woman with- called The Hunger Games. The main foil to his I in inches of a handsome movie star’s face, rule is Katniss Everdeen, a teenage girl who naturally I leaned forward, too, and instinc- originally volunteered for the Games to save tually kissed his cheek. Only after my lips her sister and, as the third “lm opens, she is brushed his snow-white beard (full and soft at the forefront of a rebellion. like a lamb) did I realize he wasn’t leaning Every great movie needs an even greater in to kiss me goodbye – he was asking me a villain, but to create such a character re- question. “How tall are you?” quires a certain level of “nesse and human- The horror came on as fast as the colour ity. “It’s easy to judge a character if that char- rushed to my cheeks, yet as though on some acter happens to be the antagonist of a story. sort of kissing auto-pilot, I continued the pro- Donald doesn’t do that and didn’t do that with cess I’d begun and leaned in to buss his other President Snow,” explains Francis Lawrence, cheek while stammering, “5-10 but in these the director of The Hunger Games: Catching heels about 6-1.” My embarrassment was Fire and Mockingjay, Parts 1 and 2. “He loves made all the more unbearable by his long- the character. He “lled him with humanity, time publicist standing in the room watch- conviction and many other layers that bring a ing. I choose to believe she didn’t see a thing. rich and honest life to the character. Donald As I left the Beverly Hills Montage Hotel that also has a gravity, intelligence and elegance August morning, I decided not to be too hard that no one else can match.” on myself. After all, who could blame me? To wit, when I refer to President Snow as a The man is Donald Sutherland. Canadian malevolent dictator, Sutherland very quickly icon. Movie star. Outspoken activist. And at corrects me. “He is not! He’s old and he has a 79, his 6-foot-4 frame is as lanky as ever, his society that he’s maintained and, for the most blue eyes as bright and soulful as when he “rst part, except for 23 kids [each year] he’s done VE burst onto the scene in Robert Aldrich’s 1967 very well. The rest of them have su–ered but Second World War drama . not as badly really as the poor in this country K ARCHI It wasn’t his “rst on-screen part but arguably for which this is an allegory for,” he explains RUN it was the role that brought the young actor emphatically. “We kill loads of people in this O/ T from New Brunswick to the Hollywood table country. We have loads of war criminals in EN K and granted him access to other seminal parts this country from George Bush to Lyndon of the era of discontent such as MASH, Kelly’s Johnson. So I don’t think he’s malevolent. In Heroes and (where he began a passion- fact, the person who he would have succeed ate a–air with co-star ). him would be Katniss Everdeen because that’s From there, his “lmography runs the gamut the person that he recognizes himself in. She from to , JFK delights him and gives him such joy, and he I ISWAR KURT PHOTOGRAPHY, NORTH 61 relishes it. He tries to control her but he can’t.” technique goes beyond family. Francis Katniss Everdeen, as anyone who doesn’t Lawrence writes in an email about one day live in a cave knows, is played by Oscar- in Atlanta while “lming Mockingjay where winner who Sutherland a massive outdoor shoot was disrupted by calls “a bloody genius. She’s Joan of Arc.” bad weather so the crew had to improvise. Su§ce to say, Sutherland knows how to “We were going to have to cancel the rest of recognize talent in young artists. He is the the day. Our only other option was to change father of “ve, after all: Kiefer and Rachel, locations midday and shoot a really import- from his former marriage to Canadian ac- ant interior scene with Donald and Jen,” he  tress , and three sons, Rossif, explains. “Trying to move everyone to the ARNER ARNER

Angus and Roeg, with his wife, Francine stage was going to be hard enough but, to W Racette. Rossif has been making a splash in make things worse, that interior scene wasn’t AND; Canadian independent “lms, most recent- scheduled to be shot for several days. We were

ly in Big Muddy, a neo-noir ©ick that pre- concerned about giving Donald, who had the GAMES HUNGER THE miered at TIFF in September. And, of course, bulk of the dialogue, zero time to prepare. Kiefer is familiar to many, most indelibly for But Donald, the total professional that he is, his role as Jack Bauer on 24. showed up with every single one of his lines AWRENCE & SUTHER L & AWRENCE Sutherland and Kiefer “rst began discuss- already memorized and absolutely nailed it.” L ing their desire to make a “lm together 25 It’s that kind of technique and skill that HEARER/WIREIMAGE  HEARER/WIREIMAGE years ago, and now that dream has become a S inspires actors of all ages, although working  EWSCOM

reality. While they have appeared on screen with a star of Sutherland’s stature would be /N COM . before in Max Dugan and A Time to Kill, enough to send most actors into new heights JOHN ER; this latest picture marks the “rst time they of stage fright. I asked Kiefer if he was a lit-

have starred in a leading role opposite one tle in awe of working with his father? “There ACAUSA AB TH SON KI EF

another. John Henry Clayton is a Western are a couple of moments in the “lm where he I shot on location in Alberta and helmed by and I really do go after each other. And I felt ONW 24 director, Canadian Jon Cassar. The story that dynamically as actors, we would really I D; BAXTER/ D;

idea was Kiefer’s, and he commissioned a be able to handle that and, having said all of LL ECT OU L G screenplay from writer Brad Mirman. Before that grand stu–, when I went to go do it with CO shooting began, father and son reworked the him, I was scared to death! I don’t think I’ve AND &

script to make it their own. ever been that nervous as an actor in my PICTURE

“It had our blood in it. Our morality. Our life!” he says with a laugh. “I can’t deny that UTHER L S HE LIF E HE

commitment to each other. Our respect and I’m working with this force of nature of an T love for each other,” explains Sutherland pas- actor, and a couple of times I’d kind of fall sionately. “It was the two of us and, “nally, it out of a scene because I was watching what ETTY IMAGES  IMAGES ETTY

was him. He actually edited it. It’s his vision. he was doing. It ended up being the greatest G ENTMEESTER/ He created a “lm that I’m thrilled with. He experience I’ve had as an actor. It was that O R ONS/ I had it in his hands and he did a wonderful special. It hit a level of intimacy for me as an C CAT CE; Opposite clockwise job, and I’m very proud to be a part of it.” actor that I haven’t experienced before.” The high praise is mutual. When I spoke to These are sentiments that are echoed by

from top: Sutherland OMMUN I EEN CHO I EEN T and Elliott Gould in Kiefer on the phone to discuss the project, he Sutherland when I ask what the experi- S C

MASH; with Jennifer was equally passionate. “He’s one of the most ence of working with his son was like. “It AR I Lawrence at The proli“c actors in the English language. He’s was like butter melting. Like ballroom dan- Hunger Games: made something like 120 “lms,” says Kiefer cing. Like goodnight kisses. That easy. That

Catching Fire premiere;  IMAGES ETTY G

proudly. “There are very few people you can smooth. That organic. That passionate,” says CHILL ER/ POL

the poster from Klute; S accepting the Choice have a conversation with and ask what was it Sutherland. When I read his father’s words Movie Villain award like to work with Bertolucci? And what was it to Kiefer, he laughs warmly. “Oh, he’s much N WINTER/ at the Teen Choice I like to work with Fellini? And what was it like more articulate than I am. That’s very sweet. K

Awards; a portait with T to work with Nicholas Roeg? There’s not a lot That’s wonderful.” ; KEV eldest son, Kiefer, of people who can put those three names out It tickles Sutherland to know that his in 1970; with young KLUTE fans at a Hunger there, and Donald is one of them.” reach spans the generations and has found BROS.  Games premiere Respect for Sutherland’s work ethic and an entirely new fan base with the tweens LAWRENCE PHOTOGRAPHY, CRED I PHOTO

62 everythingzoomer.com NOVEMBER 2014 – 63 and teens that storm the multiplex to see ing-of-age story of a boy set in Jennifer Lawrence kick ass. Take his being in 1952, airs on CBC on Jan. 4, 2015. Based voted Choice Movie Villain at this year’s Teen on William Gilkerson’s Governor General’s Choice Awards. He walked on stage wearing a Award-winning novel, Sutherland also white rose and carrying a leather satchel and voices the role of Captain Johnson. The “lm spoke to the cheering throngs of teenagers in attracted other Canadian talent, includ- that familiar plush velvet voice, “You named ing Colm Feore, Carrie Anne Moss and Paul me the most villainous?” he teased. “My wife, Gross as well as his son Rossif. I have been married for 42 years,” he pauses “The story relates to me and my own child- for e–ect. “My wife asked me to tell you that hood and me and the CBC and W.O. Mitchell she agreed with you.” The crowd erupts into and Jake & the Kid … kind of what I did in laughter, but Sutherland isn’t done. “I, on 1952,” Sutherland explains. “So I took it to the other hand, do not. I think on the con- the CBC, and they agreed to do it as an ani- trary that I am very nice, sweet-tempered mated “lm.” “I have a and generous. So generous that I’ve brought He takes out his smartphone to show me you souvenirs from Panem. They’re berries. I several of the lush, eye-catching stills from Canadian wouldn’t eat them if I were you.” the “lm by Pip Animation Services in Ottawa. passport. The last bit is in reference to the poisonous In case it isn’t obvious yet, Sutherland is berries in the “lms. I ask him how he feels proudly Canadian. He was one of eight na- Everytime I about having such young admirers. tional icons who carried the Olympic ©ag go through “Somebody told me that they were speak- into BC Place Stadium during the opening ing to teenagers and tweens and were talk- ceremonies of the 2010 Vancouver Winter they ask me ing about the character [President Snow] Olympics. He also appeared in a commer- and me and they pointed out, ‘He’s the father cial for the games and was spotted at the why I don’t of Kiefer,’ and the kids asked, ‘Who’s that?’ hockey events with his wife. Although the have an Those are the kind of splits that happen.” couple own a home in Paris, most of the But for Sutherland, who came of age as a year they live in . “I have a Canadian American man and an actor during the tumultuous late passport,” he says proudly. “I do not have an passport, ’60s and ’70s, a time rife with political pro- American passport. Every time I go through tests and activism, reaching the young gener- they ask me why don’t I have an American and I say ation means far more than merely extending passport, and I say because we have a di–er- his already enormous fame footprint. ent sense of humour.”

because “It’s wonderful,” he begins. “I just wish An example: when I ask him about the

VE ARCHI K RUN T O/ K EN I

we have a they’d go see Klute, but they never will. dreaded R word – retirement – he quips with ISWAR KURT PHOTOGRAPHY, It’s my hope that these “lms [The Hunger characteristic wit, “Yes, I think of retire- different Games] will instil in them a need for …” ment all the time. I do. In acting, it’s called sense of Sutherland hesitates, like he’s not sure he dying. It’s obviously a concern.” wants to get into it, but then he continues. Turning serious, he says what keeps him humour” “Well, you can’t say revolution. I said revolu- working is passion and love of the work. He tion once and I’ve been dealing with it ever quotes the late Russian-American Nobel since. But I’d like them to recognize that the Prize-winning poet laureate Joseph Brodsky, VE government they have, the government in who said during a commencement speech in

Canada, Stephen Harper, doesn’t serve the 1988: “‘Try to stay passionate. Leave your K ARCHI

interests of the people. They serve the inter- cool to the constellation. Passion alone is RUN

ests of pro“t, and that’s what these “lms are the remedy against boredom.’ When I read O/ T

about. And if that can get into their [young that, it became my mantra,” Sutherland ex- EN K people’s] heads and into their hearts, if they plains. “It embodies what happens with me can deal with that passionately, then it would and work, and there’s nothing more joyful. be the best gift that anyone could give me.” Acting is a passionate endeavour, the pursuit His fans of all ages can get another dose of of truth of a character.” Sutherland when the animated “lm he pro- Well, let’s hope my mistaken peck on his duced and co-wrote, Pirate’s Passage, a com- cheeks was just such a remedy. I ISWAR KURT PHOTOGRAPHY, 64