What I'm Watching... Hunger

Hunger
​Directed by Steve McQueen

I have tried to watch this film numerous times over the years, but I never made it to the end. Why? Because it is one of the most intensely raw, brutal, and emotionally draining film I have ever seen. I could never stomach watching this inhumane brutality, that you know is not fiction. But that is why I love Steve McQueen. He holds nothing back. His films are raw, brutal, and emotionally draining. He doesn't sugar coat anything for his audience. His films show life for what it is: intense.  

As his debut film, Hunger shows the best of McQueen. It is unflinching in the face of controversy and impactful in its realism. McQueen uses stark contrasts to tell this story. He compares the cozy life of a prison guard to the brutal lives of the political prisoners. He contrasts the man of political beliefs to the man of divine beliefs. But most importantly, he compares the passion of the working classing to the ignorance of the elite. McQueen is a master of his craft, and this film displays the true talent he has for filmmaking. 

Michael Fassbender is absolutely outstanding in this role. He completely gave himself over to this role, both physically and mentally. In my opinion, the best scene of the film is a passionately driven scene shot in one take for almost 20 minutes. This scene is real, passionate, wholehearted, and expertly delivered. It's Fassbender's passion and drive that grips the audience in this scene; you can't look away from his performance. In my opinion, the collaboration between McQueen and Fassbender is one of the best director-actor collaboration in modern film. Together they make beautiful magic.