Hunger is about Bobby Sands (who spoke fluent Irish language and gaeilge) and the hunger strikes of the early 1980’s. You must see this film if you are interested in the political situation in Ireland.
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If there is one thing war has produced that is in any way commendable it’s cinema. Indeed, it’s a testament to the poignancy of setting (and lack of imagination of Academy members), that films concern WWII and concentration camps feature heavily in yearly Oscar nominations. For Ireland, it was our own war that has constituted the staple of our recognised national identity. Last year saw The Wind that Shakes the Barley win the Palm D’Or in Cannes, Michael Collins was the country’s largest production, and everything in between has made references to “the Troubles” at some stage. The latest is Hunger, another film that has been receiving plenty of film festival awards. But, like all films set during wars, the question must be asked: is it the context that is affecting, or the film itself?
Hunger tells the tale of the “dirty protests” and hunger strikes that occurred in Northern Ireland’s Maze prison during the 70’s and 80’s. Members of the IRA who were arrested for crimes were protesting for political status, as opposed to being treated as mere criminals, and the British Government were refusing to recognise them. Plot-wise, Hunger is misleading. The film starts with one of the prison’s wardens, attending to his bruised knuckles before starting another day at work in the violent conditions of his prison. But the film turns to a new prisoner, Davey, who shares his cell with another non-conformist, as they smuggles messages to their fellow IRA members and assault the wardens with protests using bodily fluids. But then the film turns to its protagonist, Bobby Sands, the man who died in a hunger strike for his rights.
Directed by Steve (not THE) McQueen, this directorial debut has all the hallmarks of an artist’s installation and all the problems of a visual artist unable to handle cinematic narrative. Read the rest of this entry »
Popularity: 1% [?]
It seems as if Italian cinema may face a return to former glory days, with the announcement of the European Film Awards nominees this week. Leading the pack are two Italian films, both nominated for five awards. The first is Il Divo, a biopic of Italian politician Paolo Sorrentino (played by Toni Servillo), dealing with his ties to the Mafia. The other is Gomorra, another film dealing with Italian organised crime, but this time looking at how pervasive the mafia is in the Naples region. Having seen the latter, the disappointing decision to be intentionally cold and unsympathetic of every character leaves me hoping that Il Divo will surprise.
Other multiple nominees include Entre Les Murs, winner of the Cannes Palm D’Or this year, over-rated horror flick The Orphanage, and Hunger, Steve (not THE) McQueen’s directorial debut concerning Irish Republican terrorist Bobby Sands’ hunger strike for his political status. The latter receives a rightful nomination for Michael Fassbinder as Sands, although he may lose out to Toni Servillo. Possibly the most interesting of the films, the animated Waltz with Bashir ,which covers a particular massacre during the Lebanese war, received noms for best film and screenplay.
It’s also good to see Mongol get a nomination int he category it most definitely deserves: cinematography.
The winners will be announced on December 6th, but for the full list of nominees, go here.
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