Hunger, the first feature film by the british artist steve mcqueen. Hunger is the stunningly assured debut feature from turner. Apr 15, 2009 it was a desperate business, and hunger is a desperate film. Having already been praised at cannes, toronto and new york film festivals, steve mcqueen s hunger is a visually stunning look at the final months of irish republican bobby sandss life, who lead a hunger strike in 1981 for the right to live free from british rule, is a striking portrait of the human spirit. Mcqueens own intense focus on the body, from extensive shots of wounds, beatings and the exhalation of smoke. Acclaimed visual artist steve mcqueen makes his feature film debut with this gripping drama and independent spirit award best foreign film contender that depicts the events surrounding a hunger strike staged by a group of ira prisoners during their 1981 incarceration in britains prison maze. Director steve mcqueen shame, twelve years a slave is a master of cinematic craft. It was written by enda walsh and mcqueen it premiered at the 2008 cannes film festival, winning the prestigious camera dor award for firsttime filmmakers. Its by irish video artist steve mcqueen yes, thats his name, and its his visually arresting take on the 1981 hunger strike by ira leader bobby sands, ultimately leading to his death, and the. By declan okelly, assistant editor february march 2009. It concerns the fierce battle between the irish republican army and the british state, which in 1981 led to a hunger strike in which 10 ira prisoners died. Heres what the times of londons correspondent asked the actors about how how they did it. Hunger director steve mcqueen directing fela kuti biopic.
How far would you go to survive in the most extreme of circumstances. While in prison, he leads protests, demanding to be treated as political prisonerspows instead of just criminals. The last six weeks of the life of the irish republican hunger striker bobby sands. Hunger is the stunningly assured debut feature from turner prizewinning visual artist steve mcqueen. The film was also nominated for eight awards at the 2009 iftas, winning six at the event. A priest tries to talk bobby sands out of his protest hunger is a 2008 britishirish historical drama film directed by steve mcqueen about the 1981 irish hunger strike. Mar 08, 2009 hunger, the first feature film by the british artist steve mcqueen, recounts the final weeks of bobby sands, the imprisoned irish nationalist who died in 1981, 66 days into a hunger strike. With hunger, british filmmaker and artist steve mcqueen has turned one of historys most controversial acts of political defiance into a jarring, unforgettable cinematic experience. It is wonderfully shot with an artists composure but mcqueen is not a visual style director who doesnt come with anything else list your own failed music video director turned film director here but rather he uses this approach to improve the film and make the telling better.
Steve mcqueen 2008, starring michael fassbender, stuart. Winner of the 2008 cannes camera dor among other top international prizes, the film is a work of astonishing precision cowritten by acclaimed irish playwright enda walsh and starring michael fassbender 300, tarantinos upcoming inglourious basterds in an unflinchingly passionate turn. The consensus states unflinching, uncompromising, vivid and vital, steve mcqueen s challenging debut is not for the faint hearted, but its still a. In hunger, steve mcqueen views bobby sandss story through an. Hunger brings us into its central narrative slowly, circling it like a bird afraid to land. Steve mcqueen s film hunger hinges on a stunning scene between an ira man and a priest. Mcqueen wrote with the irish playwright enda walsh. Mar 22, 2009 steve mcqueens long shot in hunger is paying off. Combining intense formal control and extreme brutality, the film uncompromisingly pitches the viewer into the corridors and cells of northern irelands notorious maze prison also known. With an epic eye for detail, the film provides a timely exploration of the final act of desperation, when the human body is the last and ultimate resource for protest. Hunger received its world premiere at the 2008 cannes film festival, where it was. In 2003, he started work on a project called queen and country developing a range of stamps featuring those that have died in iraq. Before belfast has awakened in steve mcqueens hunger which won a golden camera award for best first feature at cannes and a gold hugo at.
Hunger is a movie about the last six weeks of bobby sands life. History has lent a new perspective to the story of ira man bobby sands and his 1981 hunger strike in northern irelands maze prison for political status, recreated here in hunger, steve mcqueen. Hunger 2009, steve mcqueen director hunger is the story of bobby sands, an irish republican put in prison for political violence against the british. Apr 11, 2009 steve mcqueens film hunger hinges on a stunning scene between an ira man and a priest. May 30, 2009 film director steve mcqueen goes to chicago, attends the venice biennale, and continues to promote hunger steve mcqueen sat 30 may 2009 19. Steve mcqueenss hunger filmmaker magazine winter 2009. Check out the trailer starring michael fassbender, stuart graham, and laine megaw. May 15, 2009 hunger directed by steve mcqueen 2008, 96 min. Hunger is a 2008 historical drama film directed by steve mcqueen and starring michael fassbender, liam cunningham, and liam mcmahon, about the 1981 irish hunger strike. It went on to win the sydney film prize at the sydney film festival. Everything you need to know about hunger movie 2009. Bobby sands is one of a group of prisoners who first took to the blanket with a dirty protest in pursuit of their claims for recognition as political prisoners. Michael fassbender as bobby sands in steve mcqueen s 2007 project hunger.
And while it makes up for a very difficult sitting due to its graphic depiction of the brutality that was inflicted on the prisoners, it also marks a terrific start to the directional. Hunger the disturbing, provocative, brilliant feature debut from british director steve mcqueen does for modern film what caravaggio did to renaissance painting. Hunger 2008 the priest tries to talk bobby sands out. Hunger is a 2008 historical drama film directed by steve mcqueen and starring michael. This is the bobby sands story, true, but we dont even see sands until well into the movie. Hunger was released in 2009 on friday, march 20, 2009 in 1 theater.
This is a film devoid of fun and light entertainment. They realize they have been abducted and make their way through a dark corridor trying to find a way out. Declan okelly discusses steve mcqueen s film about bobby sands last days. Hunger is not an easy film to watch but it is a great film. Hunger follows life in the maze prison, northern ireland with an interpretation of the highly emotive events surrounding the 1981 ira hunger strike, led by bobby sands. Yet directorcowriter steve mcqueen elides sandss presence for much of the films first half, focusing instead on the isolating rigmarole of prison life through the alternating perspectives.
Steve mcqueen in hunger 2008 liam cunningham and michael fassbender in. Steve mcqueens commanding direction captures the phsyical. The film stars fassbender as bobby sands, the provisional. Before belfast has awakened in steve mcqueen s hunger which won a golden camera award. In northern irelands maze prison in 1981, twentysevenyearold irish republican army member bobby sands went on a hunger strike to protest the.
Steve mcqueens much lauded hunger, an interpretation of ira member and as is revealed at the films close, elected member of parliament bobby sandss 1981 hunger strike raises questions. With an epic eye for detail, the film provides a timely exploration of what happens when body and mind are pushed to the uttermost limit. Firsttime filmmaker steve mcqueen spares his viewers no uncomfortable details in his account of the irish prison protests of 1981. Enda walsh helped mcqueen to craft the screenplay, which is. Hunger is a dark exploration into the breakdown of humanity. Focusing on the 1981 hunger strikes by republican prisoners in northern ireland. Dec 08, 2009 focus features has announced that hunger director steve mcqueen not the action movie star from the 60s has been hired to direct fela, a film based on the life of african musician and activist. Even looking at the movie apart from the subject matter, this is a perfect movie on all levels as far as i can see. The feature film debut of british artist steve mcqueen, hunger dramatizes the final weeks in the life of irish republican army commander bobby sands and his death by hunger strike, aged twentyseven, in 1981. Hunger director steve mcqueen directing fela kuti biopic next. May 15, 2009 hunger is a dark exploration into the breakdown of humanity. Hunger received praise from critics, audiences and at festivals all over the world. Applying a personal directing trademark that we have already seen in similar fashions before, steve mcqueen dramatizes the second hunger strike led by volunteer and m. Unflinching, uncompromising, vivid and vital, steve mcqueens challenging debut is.
Directed by steve mcqueen 2008 ireland, united kingdom with hunger, british filmmaker and artist steve mcqueen has turned one of historys most controversial acts of political defiance into a jarring, unforgettable cinematic experience. But the movie, which does not examine the arc of sandss life or the. The films director steve mcqueen last directed widows and 12 years a slave. Focus features has announced that hunger director steve mcqueen not the action movie star from the 60s has been hired to direct fela, a film based on. Instead, director steve mcqueen, an artist who employs merciless realism, strikes three major chords. Rather, its a serious commentary on this particular aspect of the socalled troubles. It was a desperate business, and hunger is a desperate film. Hunger, the first feature film by the british artist steve mcqueen, recounts the final weeks of bobby sands, the imprisoned irish nationalist who died in 1981, 66 days into a hunger strike.
The first part of hunger the film is divided into three sections, each quite. Steve kimes, anawim esq hunger 2009, steve mcqueen director. To those who feted it at this years cannes film festival, and those who have seen. Mar 27, 2009 firsttime filmmaker steve mcqueen spares his viewers no uncomfortable details in his account of the irish prison protests of 1981.
Winner of the 2008 cannes camera dor among other top international prizes, the film is a. Maybe, but you would be hardpressed to find a film bleaker than hunger, artist steve mcqueen s debut feature detailing the starvation strikes in the maze prison that resulted in the death of bobby sands in 1981 spoiler. Hunger, which deals with the final weeks in the life of ira hunger striker bobby sands, is a harrowing yet beautiful piece of work. Five strangers awaken to find themselves trapped in an underground dungeon. Director steve mcqueen offers a bleak portrayal of the period leading up to the hunger strike, as well as its immediate aftermath.
Mcqueen s film, which won the camera dor at the 2008 cannes film festival, takes you deep inside the maze prison outside of belfast from the mid70s to 1981 to dramatize the complex political maneuvering that drove sands to starve himself to death. In insisting that they be granted political status that the bombings. Hunger is his first feature film, but he has worked in video for some time. Steve kimes, anawim esq hunger 2009, steve mcqueen. The hunger in the title of steve mcqueen s debut feature alludes to the 1981 hunger strike by irish republican army prisoner bobby sands. In hunger, steve mcqueen views bobby sandss story through. A drama documenting the last six weeks in the life of irish republican army ira member bobby sands fassbender, who led the 1981 hunger. There were 9 other movies released on the same date, including duplicity. Yet this unrelenting darkness should not be held against it. Hunger trailer 2008 the criterion collection youtube.
Thankfully, though, command of details is one of his strengths. Maybe, but you would be hardpressed to find a film bleaker than hunger, artist steve mcqueens debut feature detailing the starvation strikes in the maze prison that resulted in the death of bobby sands in 1981 spoiler. One part alan clarkestyle decontextualized social realism, another part cronenbergian body horror, steve mcqueens hunger immediately reminded me of amy taubins take on eastern promises. Steve mcqueens much lauded hunger, an interpretation of ira member and as is revealed at the films close, elected member of parliament bobby. Hunger follows life in the maze prison, northern ireland shortly before and during the infamous 1981 ira hunger strike led by bobby sands. A drama documenting the last six weeks in the life of irish republican army ira member bobby sands fassbender, who led the 1981 hunger strike to protest the treatment of his. Turner prize winner steve mcqueens films arent usually projected in movie theaters but on gallery walls, so it wasnt shocking that the british artists directorial feature debut a horrific yet lyrically abstracted depiction of the 1981 ira hunger strike in northern islands maze prison was artful enough to win the camera dor at last years cannes film festival. Tracking down a streaming service to buy, rent, download, or watch the steve mcqueen directed movie via subscription can be difficult, so we. He likes taking on very difficult subjects like this one, meticulously reconstructing some of the most brutal prisons ever made. In northern irelands maze prison in 1981, twentysevenyearold irish republican army member bobby sands went on a hunger strike to protest the british governments refusal to recognize him and his fellow. Directed by steve mcqueen and starring michael fassbender, stuart graham, helena bereen and larry cowan. Featuring an intense performance by michael fassbender, hunger, about ira. With an epic eye for detail, the film provides a timely exploration of what happens. Hunger looks at hell and the drive for freedom the.
The first of them was bobby sands, whose agonizing death is seen with an implacable level gaze in the closing act of the film. Five individuals unknown to each otherjordan, grant, luke, anna, and alexwake up in complete darkness surrounded by stone walls. Mar 20, 2009 watch the movie trailer for hunger 2009. The effect of the entire movie is that its written on the body in an extreme way. Hunger is a 2009 american horror film directed by steven hentges and written by l. Use the following links to find out more about the themes his work addresses. Watch on ifc films unlimited with prime video channels. The final months of bobby sands, the irish republican army activist who protested his treatment at the hands of british prison guards with a hunger strike, are.