Trailer for ‘Hunger’ Will Leave You Speechless

Posted by Dr. Cole Abaius (cole.abaius@filmschoolrejects.com) on March 30, 2009

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One of the joys of keeping up with film is to see a first time filmmaker present his or her work. Most times, it’s a fascinating look at raw talent before it’s been honed, molded and shaped into brilliance – like watching the first brush strokes of something that might one day become the Mona Lisa. Even better than that is when a first time filmmaker makes a film that looks as if he’s been making feature-lengths his whole life. If buzz has any place in the realm of reality – that’s what Steve McQueen has done with Hunger.

The film won the Palm d’Or at Cannes in 2008 after a tumultuous screening, but it’s easy to see how the subject matter and the presentation of said subject matter could unhinge even the casual film-goer. Bobby Sands was a polarizing figure – a member of the IRA and in Parliament under Thatcher, he led a hunger strike while imprisoned in 1981. From what I hear, and from the look of the trailer, Michael Fassbender portrays Sands with incredible fervor. After fellow-writer Landon Palmer sent me the trailer, he commented that Fassbender makes Christian Bale in The Machinist look like he half-assed his weight loss. Whether or not Landon meant for “half-assed” to be a pun about weight loss, it seems like an accurate statement about the dedication that Fassbender maintained for the role.

Hunger had a limited release back in December and expanded on March 20, but it’s still a rare gem that’s only playing a few cities.

What do you think?


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  • I saw this last year..it was ok but it was no In The Name of The Father,,,
  • Loukas
    The movie will also leave you speachless.
  • When we left the theatre, everyone had tears in their eyes.
  • TDC
    Awesome movie - Fassbender is a phenomenal actor! See this movie.

    T
  • alex
    Saw the film in Telluride last year with McQueen Q&A. This film stands out as one of the finest films I saw in 2008. Sadly overlooked by the Oscars.
  • Ned Bert
    Please please tell me that comments such as speechless refers to film making and not subject. Sand was never the great orator that the ten minute canteen scene portrays. That waste of time should have been used to show the effect that the prison guards murder had on the witnesses to his brutal slaying.

    The shooting of a man in the back of the head is the "Christians" equivalent to the barbaric beheading of the Islamic extremists, except the parents and friends do not get to witness the slaying first hand.

    McQueen tried to put his art background into the film and failed, the slaying of the horse cliche was so tired and reminiscent of the ex iRA commander now deputy first minister of N.Ireland, comments on the loss of civilians as collateral damage . Some 3000 lives lost the majority murdered by the IRA, they murdered more Catholics then the other sides involved in N.Ireland.

    Putting N.Ireland, like the sick horse, down for its own good simply did not work, it was a pity McQueen did not pick up on that point but instead allowed the old rhetoric to guide his directors hand.

    He failed to understand the speech Sands made, and the curse that he put upon the future generations, he did not call for peace and reconciliation but for future generations to come onto the streets and continue the slaying and reasons for divisions. Echo's of which are seen in the recent slayings of the policeman and soldiers and attempted murder of the oh so dangerous pizza delivery men. One of which comes from Poland.

    The perpetrators of the slayings political wing has less than 1% of the populations support, Sands legacy to the Ireland is dying out. Peace is a threat to his followers as our younger generations born post ceasefire or Good Friday agreement, want to live in harmony with their respective neighbours.

    So much for the putting down of the sick animal that N.Ireland was, McQueen failed to portray the legacy of Sands in an objective manner and the question is why, did his ex terrorists advisors influence his artistic decisions.

    Hunger, typical example of how many directors approach the Irish "troubles", they have an obligation to do better.
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