Hunger is a piece of art. There is a plot, and there is exposition, but for all intents, it is not a movie, but art. It is no surprise that the film feels more art than motion picture. The director, Steve McQueen, is a visual artists who uses film to create his art. Hunger is his first film and though based on true events doesn't concern itself with those events.The film is about three men; a new prisoner to Her Majesty's Prison Maze, Davey (Brian Milligan), a prison guard Raymond Lohan (Stuart Graham), and Bobby Sands (Michael Fassbender) the leader of the hunger strike which gives the film its name. Davey and Raymond's stories intertwine during the first third of the film, while the latter two thirds show Bobby as he decides to begin the hunger strike designed to give Ireland Freedom.
Although it does have plot, as I said, its a piece of art.
The film is made up of moments more than anything else. A character paints the walls of his cell with his feces. A quiet guard stands outside as his peers beat prisoners running a gauntlet of police sticks. Sands sees his past as he begins to die of starvation. A prisoner has a moment where he befriends a fly.
The cinematography is incredible. Parts of the film is crystal clear, and parts of it have been taken out of focus. The camera rarely cuts, but when it does it cuts into montages. There is a 20 minute still shot that is the only real dialogue in the film.
