09.21.08
Review: “Hunger”
“Hunger,” visual artist Steve McQueen’s feature length debut, is an audacious chronicle of human suffering at its most devastating. Centring on, at its core and during the latter stage of the film, the imprisoned, but devotionally unlimited IRA member Bobby Sands who died in 1981 after leading a 66-day hunger strike as a means to protest the decision of the British government to repudiate recognizing the condemned IRA members as political prisoners. Lyrical and expressionistic even in its more harrowing moments, the film is a remarkable piece of intensely unlimited filmmaking and is absolutely not to be missed under any circumstances.
For those not entirely familiar with this particular tragedy in human history, the setting, time and circumstances are laid out by means of title text at the beginning of the film. This, as relevant as it may be to familiarise the audience with the shifting protagonists’ back-story, does nothing to prepare us for the horrors to follow. While the situation is well documented and the film’s conclusion inevitable, the intimate defiance portrayed here is just as shocking as the grotesque and gut-churning, but hardly gratuitous, violence.
Sands (Michael Fassbender) and the rest of his resilient comrades are kept in a prison that shares a definitive resemblance to my vision of hell on earth; tight, cramped cells with walls covered in handmade, faeces-smeared murals, that are surrounded by a patina of soul crunching limitation. This claustrophobia gives way to an atmosphere of palpable tension where almost nothing is said. This makes the frequent outbursts of violence and torture more disturbing. Despite the atrocities that are meant to restrain the men’s radical protests pertaining to their freedom, they all remain deeply dedicated to their cause for which they will fight, spill blood and ultimately die for. Their struggle is a testament to the power of the human spirit, but that high honour belongs to one prisoner above all others in the film, Sands.
“Hunger” is ostensibly divided into three main chapters which focus on different characters and their standing in the occurrences, that of the introduction where we become aware of the IRA’s cause, followed by the theological questioning of Sands’ motivation for the hunger strike, and ultimately Sands’ sticking to his word and carrying out the strike come hell or high water. As we progress from chapter to chapter, the intensity forcefully builds up into one of the most metaphorically powerful final scenes I’ve seen, where the metaphor is only revealed later in the film. Towards the finality of Sands’ strike, as he drifts in and out of life, McQueen masterfully weaves in a super-imposition of a flock of birds rising into the sky in unanimity as Sand gasps for breath; his body more than willing to give up, but his spirit not. This image is counteracted with images of Sand’s childhood, free with all the hope for the future.
McQueen keeps his artistic vision simple and allows the powerful essence of human fortitude to wash over every scene, without eschewing the chronological structure of events. McQueen is interested in setting up the foundations for a portrait bound to stir up debate rather than lay out a series of facts straight out of a history book. Assisting his vision are the extraordinary performers he has cast.
You’ll be hard pressed to find a performance you can label as “bad” in “Hunger.” Mainly because there just isn’t one. Fassbender, who lost somewhere around 50 pounds for the role, is the most captivating though as he makes the delicate transition from a deeply introverted man, to vocally pronounced and morally assured, to a radically violent soul willing to do whatever it takes to make his point and force the change he, and his comrades, so desperately long for, and right back to where he started.
The violence and hideously inhumane conditions the prisoners are subjected to make the film extremely difficult to watch, but it is mesmerising. McQueen milks this friction for all it is worth, with no holds barred, displaying a strong conviction that translates into solid direction. He initiates an air of immediacy, but rushes nothing. Long takes, particularly a twenty-something minute, unbroken scene where Sands debates the importance of the hunger strike with a priest played by Liam Cunningham, are proof of this. Each take turns trying to convince the other to look at things from their respective perspective. Sands believing that the strike is a selfless act of monumental importance for the IRA’s cause, the priest deeming it nothing more than a selfish, unjust suicide; neither willing to budge.
Above all, “Hunger” is a work of art, where its merits override its flaws, portraying a particular instance in human history that has obviously left a scar as well as having an immense importance in today’s world where torture and brutality are omnipresent in current affairs. McQueen is a talent whose work has to be experienced in order to understand and he is a something of a saviour in terms of modern filmmaking. The world needs more filmmakers who can tackle a delicate story head on and produce a film this tenacious and self-assured. His debut is a raw, unflinching gaze into a moment of history so ugly that it is hard to believe such a beautiful, lyrical film could result. However, it does, in the most daring, moving way imaginable.
Fatac Rating: ****
Hunger. Directed by Steve McQueen. Written by Steve McQueen and Enda Walsh. Cinematography by Sean Bobbitt. Editing by Joe Walker. Music by Leo Abrahams and David Holmes. Starring: Michael Fassbender, Liam Cunningham, Stuart Graham, Brian Milligan and Liam McMahon. Running Time: 92 minutes. Age Restriction: Not Rated. Year: 2008. Rating: 4 out of 5 stars. [A]
Daniel said,
September 22, 2008 at 2:44 am
Count me in. Someday…sigh.
Nick Plowman said,
September 22, 2008 at 7:59 am
Don’t worry Danny, you’ll see it soon enough!
Justin said,
September 22, 2008 at 8:49 am
You are super lucky Nick, this so high on my must-see list, now even more so!
Salmaya said,
September 22, 2008 at 8:56 am
You’ve seen this? UGH.
It doesn’t even have a US release date yet, I don’t think. That is sad.
sheridon said,
September 22, 2008 at 9:01 am
nice, nice, nice review, caught this at TIFF, very good movie. nice to see more people like it.
Nick Plowman said,
September 22, 2008 at 9:05 am
Indeed sheridon (thanks for the visit by the way), and all I want is for this to get a stateside release asap, because once it does it will get more critical acclaim and it will spread to SA and more people can witness its greatness. I hope.
GoshWatcher said,
September 22, 2008 at 10:28 am
Sounds amazing, and after all the awards it has won at film festivals, I thought as much.
Dave said,
September 22, 2008 at 10:34 am
I knew you would love it Nick, it is just great. It sort of has a “Diving Bell” claustrophobia vibe to it, but it is not as obviously beautiful like Diving Bell was. Fassbender’s performance is amazing too. Lovely, lyrical review as per usual.
Kerry said,
September 22, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Nick, once again, you have produced an excellent treatment of a film I love. And I am not even saying that to boost your ego, because the day you write a shitty review, I’ll tell you. In retrospect, Hunger is quite possibly my most favourite festival film – along with The Wrestler, Slumdog, Che and Wendy and Lucy ;) I am glad you got to see it so early, most people won’t get a chance to see it this year even. Kudos kid, you’re going places.
Sam Juliano said,
September 22, 2008 at 5:29 pm
Well, Nick, your UP THE YANTZE and PATTI SMITH review have been seriously challenged but this beautifully written and probing review that makes this film a must-see for all of us. I applaud the fact that you saw it first, as you are a terrific person to provide infectious expectations, and you have been screwed enough in the past. Again, a terrific read from start to finish of what is sure to be a most intriguing and fascinating film.
Nick Plowman said,
September 23, 2008 at 5:47 pm
Thanks all, and for those of you who have not seen it yet, I really hope you are able to do so soon. It’s so worth it.
Matthew Lucas said,
September 23, 2008 at 11:54 pm
As much as I’ve heard about this one, I know surprisingly little about it. Your review, however, has definitely got me jazzed about it.
Beautiful job as always. ;-)
Nick Plowman said,
September 24, 2008 at 12:13 am
Thanks buddy! When you see it soon, I hope you like it too.
kevin steele said,
September 30, 2008 at 7:17 am
Has Anyone seen H3 Fantastic Movie of the same story ?
Nick Plowman said,
September 30, 2008 at 1:16 pm
I haven’t even heard of it….I suck.
Hedwig van Driel said,
October 7, 2008 at 5:43 pm
I just watched this. What an utterly harrowing experience… but an impressive debut, that much is for sure.
Great write up!
Nick Plowman said,
October 16, 2008 at 9:13 pm
Woot, apparently this opens in the US on the 5th of December. Just saying. For those who want to see it.
danella said,
October 29, 2008 at 10:29 am
based on its great amount of BFI nominations, I cant wait to see this one now. it sounds amazing, and as a student who studied the IRA incidents at school, it is also of personal interest to me, the story.
Nilsia said,
November 8, 2008 at 6:33 am
Steve McQueen said he would rather not get into the politics of the troubles, and rather focus on the people and their true selves, this shows in the film. Although it was one of the most incredible films i have seen in recent years at the Cork film festival, i thought that the motivations of the men were not touched on enough and were reduced merely to a theological debate, Mcqueen suceeded in avoiding taking a political side, however i think this cost,somewhat the integrity of the real men featured in the film. The subject matter holds centurys of weight for people and still does, watching this film evoked feelings of annoyance that (even though it was to capture what only occured in the H-blocks) not enough was done to convey why exactly these men were willing to die, and the cultural circumatances that had pushed them there. An otherwise perfect piece.
Matthew Lucas said,
December 5, 2008 at 2:19 am
Now that I’ve seen this, I totally agree.
All I can say is HOLY SHIT MICHAEL FASSBINDER!!!