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REVIEW
Oct. 30, 2023
Hunger
The film follows the story of Aoy, an ambitious hawker-stall cook on her journey to the prestigious private chef team, ‘Hunger’ which is led by the ruthless Chef Paul after receiving an invitation. By: Wee Yan Ling
Genres: Drama/Thriller
Distributor: Netflix
https://www.netflix.com/sg/
Length: 145 minutes
Producer: Kongdej Jaturanrasamee
Production company: Netflix, Song Sound Production
Description
The film follows the story of Aoy, an ambitious hawker-stall cook on her journey to the prestigious private chef team, ‘Hunger’ which is led by the ruthless Chef Paul after receiving an invitation.
Aoy shoulders the responsibility of her family’s business and taking care of her younger siblings. She struggles to support her family having to juggle work and personal life at once.
The film explores the issues of class division and ambition, through the culinary world by effectively portraying visual discrepancies between the working-class and elite dining. The divide is further exacerbated through the stark contrast between Aoy’s humble family restaurant and the refined kitchen of ‘Hunger’. The noise and crowd is in stark contrast against the clean, pristine and stellar environment of the exclusive kitchen.
The film’s visual discrepancies are not solely emphasising on the culinary world, but also signifies the bigger picture, the societal hierarchy and division present in Thailand. It resounds with the rivalring ideologies of egalitarianism and hierarchy that have propelled and furthered the political unrest and movements in the nation over time.
Having to navigate in the male-dominated hierarchy in the culinary world, Aoy finds herself forming a close knitted bond with the team’s sous chef, who is also her mentor. Aoy trains under Chef Paul’s stringent regime, catering to an array of VIPs. Under the rigorous guidance of Chef Paul, they serve an eclectic clientele, ranging from cryptocurrency enthusiasts to individuals involved in illegal activities.
The experiences with the latter group, test Aoy's endurance to the point where she decides to leave her apron behind and embark on a quest to find Tos, a celebrated restaurateur who pledges to transform her into Thailand's newest culinary sensation.
Hunger explores the human psyche and reveals the human’s innate desire for wealth and status, disregarding the price that we have to pay. It highlights the perpetual divide between the privileged and the underprivileged.
The cinematography paired with enchanting performances by the lead actors breaks the fourth wall and brings the audiences into the scene of sweeping cityscapes and the mouth-watering shots of the delicacies, and atmosphere, surpassing any deficiencies in the conversation.
The introspective commentary weaved together with the impeccable performance by the actors has propelled the film to fame and is not to be missed.
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