This review may contain spoilers
"Is it expensive because it's special, or special because it's expensive?"
Hunger followed Aoy from street food chef to the world of decadent fine dining. Thailand's class divide was explored through the world of cooking with a rather dismal view of the wealthy and the chefs who catered to them. The competition for food and domination led the main characters to define what it was they were really hungry for and what they were willing to sacrifice to sate that craving.Aoy works in her family's small, crowded restaurant. Her friends are all searching for jobs, envious that she had a job waiting on her after graduation. Tone, a sous chef for Hunger, an exclusive catering company for the extremely wealthy, gives her a card to audition for a job opening. As run down and hot as the family eatery is, Hunger is large, militantly clean and organized, and run with an iron fist by Chef Paul.
During Aoy's tenure with the volatile chef, she learns much about herself and her hunger. Initially, she hungered to be special. As she is introduced to the lavish styles of the rich and famous she yearns for some of that for herself, especially when she sees Chef Paul treated like a rock star. Chef Paul hungers to remain relevant and on top, willing to do anything necessary to stay there. When he crosses the line legally, Aoy realizes she can no longer work for the popular chef. But she goes from one frying pan into the fiery wok. A promoter named Tos hires her to be the head chef for his new restaurant. She becomes scarcely more than a marketable commodity which all comes to a head at a bacchanalia party pitting her against Chef Paul in a cook-off.
Chef Paul's disdain for the upper class that kept him in his expensive home and lifestyle was shown through the meals he prepared for them. Bloody food, red sauces dripping from lips, raw meat lowered from the ceiling in a theatrical show brought out the primal, even sacrificial instincts in the diners. They didn't have the ability to understand quality, only the showmanship and popularity of the chef. In contrast, Aoy hungered to cook with love and with the flavors that had meaning for her. She hoped to touch the place inside where familial memories remained.
Hunger asked some interesting questions. "Is it expensive because it's special or special because it's expensive?" Which begged the question in regards to Chef Paul, was his food any good or did the diners perceive it to be good because of the display and rarity of ingredients? When Chef Paul insisted a diner drag the lobster tail through a gray sauce reminiscent of clay, did it actually taste delicious or was it supposed to because of the presentation? Also, "What you eat represents your social status." Which, again, doesn't always imply quality, just more rarity of delicacies.
Hunger went beyond the desires of food and class and even briefly delved into the physical. While massaging a slice of meat, Aoy and Tone shared a primal intimate moment as they caressed each other with their meat covered hands. Tone did not share the same level of hunger for fame and success as Aoy and Chef Paul leading to problems between the two young people.
The two ambitious chefs ended up seeking different routes to satisfy their ravenous cravings to be the best. Chef Paul was willing to sacrifice anyone and anything, including his morals to remain the supreme chef to the wealthy. Aoy had to determine what she was truly hungry for. Could only the hedonistic rich crown her with success and self-esteem or could her hunger be satisfied elsewhere?
If hunger had a flaw, it would be that the hammering of the debauchery of the wealthy was done too repeatedly and without any nuance. The film did seem overly long as well. I can't say that the bloody looking plates of food seemed appealing but they did showcase Chef Paul's inner contempt for his clients.
The central thrust of the film came down to Aoy's choices. Aoy had to decide what she truly hungered for and what would satisfy that inner craving to be special. What would she be willing to part with and what did she want to embrace? Hunger may not have completely satisfied me or introduced me to anything new, but I found it comforting and not too overbaked.
4/8/23
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Blood and Flesh
I have been trying to come up with a catchy first sentence to begin this review for the past hour, but I can't think of anything satisfying enough, so here we go.Execution-wise the movie is splendid in all aspects from cinematography and directing to acting and music.
Unexpectedly it doesn't even feel draggy, even though it runs for two and a half hours.
However for some reason I don't feel like mentioning any of this is important, because it doesn't really matter comparing to the plot and what it felt like watching it.
Hunger deals with the theme of greed and the chasm between the poor and the rich. It doesn't romanticise anything and at some points it feels raw to a point that as a viewer I felt depressed, frustrated and angry but not in a way that it made it difficult to watch. It doesn't have any type of ''fairy-tale'' plot or the cliché of ''food made with love beats everything''.
It focuses on the importance of the choices that people make for themselves and how easy it is to turn into a person you hate.
Even though it doesn't feel preachy, I feel like they could tone it down a bit more to have a better balance.
I would definitely like a different ending, but it didn't degrade the rest of the film.
"The poor eat simply to satisfy their hunger, but when you have more than enough to eat your hunger doesn't end".
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This review may contain spoilers
Strong start with weak ending
I almost never watch Thai movies; this is literally the second Thai movie I have watched in my life. And I must say that I am really impressed. Cinematography, acting and scoring are really good. The first half was set up really well - the tension in the scenes where the FL was trying to impress Chef Paul was really so palpable I was holding my breath while watching. The second half however seems to have fallen off a cliff. The film was going for the social commentary angle with mentions on inequality and social stratification but it was hastily abandoned and only picked up towards the end with some random shots of homeless people on the streets. I was expecting something like a Parasite-esque satire but it seems that the writers got confused on what was the main message of the show. The FL claims she wants to be special and she has the "hunger" to succeed - yet throws in the towel because hunting and cooking rare animals illegal crossed her boundaries. I was a little confused at this; it seemed like such a trivial reason to quit. Maybe I have watched too many fucked up movies but I wished they had provided a more disturbing reason for her to leave Chef Paul like for example, those rich people requesting for human meat.There is also a littleeee too much exposition on the whole social commentary angle. Characters talking openly about how it sucks being poor, Chef Paul bragging in front of the cops that he would never face any consequences, literal scenes of homeless people at the end etc are all too "in your face" and I would much rather go for the "show don't tell" approach. And of course, the rather cliched ending of the importance of family blah blah. With this movie being over 2 hours long, I was quite disappointed at the somewhat flat ending. I don't' regret it though, it was still entertaining. Just wished they had managed to maintain the tension and the thriller angle from the first half
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Hunger is greed
Food here could be substituted with any materialistic object with the vs of rich people. You either run towards something and you lose time, ie poor people, or you have too much of something and you lose it's valueLife is about balance, about gratefulness and about giving more than receiving. Rich people might think they have more but in reality they have so much less because they're never satisfied
Poor people are never happy because they always want more
Great filmography quality the biggest benefit of Netflix production. beautiful food. a nice message of poor vs rich, hunger, greed, definition of success, and be satisfied with what you have vs what you could have.
Not enough grittiness, aokbab is a great actress but her stoic richbitch vibe didn't feel as greedy as she should've been. The 1 second nudity was uncalled for and the downside of Netflix
The way those rich people ate was way too gross, and tho I understand the hunger metaphor and I don't doubt rich people do live their lives devouring their pleasures, but I also don't think they'd go around like eating animals, etiquette is a rich people nature
Overall good but not great
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Would you like a side of class commentary with that?
The social criticism of this film is about as subtle as, well... plonking a massive rack of meat on a table and calling it a "sacrificial feast" for your wealthy onlookers.On the one hand, Hunger bangs you over the head with a wok while screaming, "rich people are evil" (facts) and asks you to maybe go touch some grass. On the other hand, it undercuts its own attempts at class commentary by erasing nuance and thereby failing to really contribute anything insightful.
I think if you want to watch something that leans more into the power dynamics and social criticism but still centres on food, I'd recommend The Platform (2019, Spanish).
That said, the production quality of the Hunger is top tier. It's worth watching purely for some of the cinematographic moments. The soundtrack is strong as well. Though I would've liked more of those jazz elements from the opening scenes to have been used later in the film too.
It may look like a long run time but it goes fast. Terrific pacing means this one is an easy watch for a Friday or Saturday night. Best served with the cheapest cook-up or takeaway you can muster.
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The film's unique premise revolves around the central theme of food, which becomes a character in itself, a symbol of desire, sustenance, and even manipulation. The way the movie showcases the artistry and passion behind culinary creations is nothing short of mesmerizing. The sumptuous visuals of the dishes being prepared, presented, and savored leave a lasting impact on the audience, making their mouths water and their hearts race in anticipation.
At the core of "Hunger" lies a thrilling and suspenseful plot that keeps viewers at the edge of their seats throughout. The story revolves around a talented but enigmatic chef who opens a high-end restaurant in a quaint town. As his gastronomic delights become the talk of the town, mysterious incidents unfold, hinting at a deeper, darker secret hidden beneath the chef's seemingly flawless culinary world. The tension builds gradually, and the director masterfully keeps the audience guessing, luring them into a web of intrigue and suspense.
The drama aspect of the film is where its emotional depth shines. The characters are richly developed and layered, each with their own struggles, aspirations, and pasts that shape their actions and decisions. The main character's complex persona and emotional journey are brilliantly portrayed, making him both relatable and enigmatic. The supporting cast delivers stellar performances, adding depth and nuance to the overall narrative.
The cinematography is a feast for the eyes, capturing the ambiance of the restaurant, the beauty of the Thai countryside, and the intensity of the culinary process with exquisite precision. The film's music complements the visuals and narrative, adding another layer of emotion to the story.
As the movie unfolds, it skillfully intertwines the three genres, enhancing the impact of each element. The food not only serves as a sensory delight but also becomes a metaphor for the characters' desires, struggles, and hidden agendas. The thriller aspect keeps the audience engrossed in the unfolding mystery, while the drama tugs at their heartstrings and leaves them emotionally invested in the fate of the characters.
In conclusion, "Hunger" is a cinematic masterpiece that defies traditional genre boundaries. Its rich storytelling, mesmerizing visuals, and stellar performances make it a must-watch for any film lover. Whether you're a food enthusiast, a thriller fan, or someone who appreciates deep emotional narratives, "Hunger" will satisfy your cravings and leave you hungry for more.
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This review may contain spoilers
First time watching dark cooking movie. Haha... But yep this quite dark, but at the same time you can relate to what people in here think...Hunger talk not only about the hungry of our stomach, but also our ambition. How much are you hungry for success or be 'special'? how much are you willing to go for it...? Are you in the end gonna lose yourself to your hunger or in the end you'll gonna turn back to realize what are your initial ambition comes from? After that will you also gonna regret how far do you walk toward that goal, how much do you sacrifice for it...?
Haha... So many question that we can think when we see this movie...
In this movie we can see Aoy try to reach that success. At first we think that she'll gonna willing to sacrifice everything for it. But I'm really glad that she's never really lose her conscience in the way up & how in the end she turn her head back to realize how wrong her path is.
This is one good movie, that can give us lesson what we have to do to achieve our goal.
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