Hunger, directed by newcomer Steve McQueen (not to be confused with The Great Escape Steve McQueen), is an artsy film based on the true story of Bobby Sands who led a hunger strike in 1981. It is said that at the premiere at the Cannes film festival there were many walkouts but also is said to have received a standing ovation during the closing credits, and I can understand why. The beginning of the film is paced very slowly with almost no dialogue, no music, and very long drawn out takes. It is almost frustrating to watch, but after being patient and letting it pick up I guarantee you, Hunger will satisfy your deepest movie cravings.
Hunger is a very interesting film, which shows a lot of potential for filmmaker Steve McQueen who won the golden camera award for best debut film at the Cannes film festival this past year. The story opens with prison guard, Raymond Lohan (Stuart Graham) preparing to leave for work at Belfast’s Maze prison. Then it switches over to Davey (Brian Milligan), a new prisoner arriving. His new roommate, Gerry (Liam McMahon), has smeared the cell with feces from floor to ceiling and we witness their resistance to the prison regime through what they call “no wash protests”. The beginning of the film the story is very muddled and I’m not sure what the intentions of the filmmaker was to further the plot except to show us the horrors and atmosphere of the prison they were living in. It is hard to connect to any character because we know nothing about any of them really.
The story finally picks up when we are introduced to Bobby Sands (Michael Fassbender) who is the focus of the film. He deeply believes in the cause that he was imprisoned for and is planning on dying for political prisoner status. In the film’s most amazing scene, Sands debates of his hunger strike with a visiting priest (Liam Cunningham). The wide shot of the two men talking goes on for over 10 minutes and it completely blew my mind. I later found out it is said to be a world record for the longest single shot in a film.
The third act of the film shows Bobby Sands withering away while he doesn’t eat for 66 days. It was like watching Christian Bale from The Machinist divided by two. The skeleton body of Fassbender was shocking. All in all, I doubt you will have a chance to catch this film in theaters as it will not be released anytime soon, but if you get a chance to view it on DVD when it comes out then it is definitely worth a view for those patient moviegoers.
Not quite a MADE movie.
IMDB: 8.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 88%
Moviewiseguys: 7.5/10