A guide to ‘The Hunger Games’

“The Hunger Games,” the film adaptation of the first book in Suzanne Collins’s trilogy about a dystopian future where the government pits children against each other in an annual fight to the death, opens March 23.

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Jennifer Lawrence stars as Katniss Everdeen. Katniss is one of 24 “tributes” — a boy and girl from 12 districts — who compete in a fight to the death known as “The Hunger Games.”

Murray Close /

Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks, left) officiates the random selection of the tributes from District 12 and accompanies Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) to the capital.

Murray Close / Lions Gate

Katniss and the other competitors are taken to the capital before the games for evaluation and training in skills including combat, camouflage and wilderness survival.

Murray Close

Caesar Flickerman (Stanley Tucci) interviews the participants before each of the Hunger Games, introducing them to the audience.

Murray Close / Lions Gate

Katniss is joined by Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson, center), the male tribute from her district. Lenny Kravitz, right, plays Cinna, who helps them with the costumes and preparation for their first interview and introduction to the audience. Public popularity can lead to sponsors, who will send gifts to help tributes stay alive during the games.

Murray Close / Lions Gate

Effie Trinket (Elizabeth Banks, left) and Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence, right) flank Haymitch Abernathy (Woody Harrelson). Abernathy is the only living tribute from Katniss’s district to survive the Hunger Games and is obligated to train and manage Katniss and Peeta during the games.

Murray Close / Lions Gate

Katniss, who learned how to hunt in order to feed her family, relies on her archery skills during the Hunger Games.

Murray Close / Lions Gate

Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth attend a “Hunger Games” session with fans at a Los Angeles mall.

Jesse Grant / Getty Images for Lionsgate

Fans gather to view the question and answer session at "The Hunger Games" mall tour.

Katy Winn / AP

Poster art for "The Hunger Games," featuring Jennifer Lawrence as Katnis Everdeen.

/ AP

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