Hunger

I was shocked after watching this film. Obviously the film on the surface is about cooking, kitchens etc, and then on the next level down it becomes about greed, snobbery and privilege. How far are we willing to go to get what we want and what is meaning of it all?

But there is another level to this movie which left me feeling sick to my stomach. And it's not because of blood or gore. It is more to do with the way that the whole world is going, in a biblical sense the worshipping of false idols that in the end prove to be wrong. The way that we are being led by our greed and jealousy, into a place that is as far from reality as you can get.

But thankfully the film does pull it around in the end and gives mankind a glimmer of hope.

This film is a commentary on socioeconomic class-divide through food, but not your typical "wow, that's fancy looking food" kinda movie from the food-drama sub-genre.

Plot Aoy (Remember the actor from Bad Genius?), who runs a family noodle shop, wants to be 'special', wants more from life. But how far is she willing to go to become a famous chef? Can she handle everything that will come the fame?

Take Social commentary can sometimes feel too preachy, either the rich or poor side can be made to seem very villainous, but I thought it was fairly balanced here. While there is nothing mind-blowing here, the satire and drama were balanced. Good acting by everybody and also well shot. It's a slow-burn of sorts but the film has a message, that....is thought-provoking, to say the least.

Hunger is a compelling and thought-provoking film that explores the world of cooking and the class divide that exists in society. The movie follows the story of Auy, a young cook who manages her father's old noodle house. Auy is given the opportunity to work with Chef Paul, the owner of a very popular catering business that caters to the elite.

The film's portrayal of the culinary world is captivating, and the cinematography is excellent. The photography of the cooking process is especially impressive, and it truly brings the audience into the kitchen. The film does an excellent job of showing the stark difference between the food that the poor and the rich eat.

As the story progresses, Auy realizes that she cannot condone Chef Paul's policies and unlawful acts. She decides to quit and forms her own cooking team with the help of an entrepreneur. Her restaurant, Flame, quickly becomes a phenomenon in social media, and she is able to compete with Chef Paul when they are both invited to cook for a socialite personality.

However, the film's ending falls short of expectations. It feels somewhat rushed, and the resolution is not as satisfying as it could have been. The film could have benefited from a different ending that tied up loose ends and provided a more satisfying conclusion.

Overall, Hunger is a movie worth watching for foodies and those interested in exploring social issues through the culinary world. Despite the lackluster ending, the film's excellent cinematography and compelling story make it a must-see.

I remember Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying from 2017's Bad Genius and here too, she's phenomenal. While the easy (and obvious) way to look at Hunger is Whiplash meets The Menu, the writing and direction are both pretty solid. They have an interesting tale to tell here; one that doesn't just stick to the hierarchy in a fine-dining restaurant's kitchen. Of course, those bits are as hard-hitting as they come, but the socio-economic layers that the writing offers, sweeten the pot. The protagonist's character arc is clear-cut, and the transitions that she goes through - physically, emotionally, and financially - are always at the film's forefront.

Not only is the film super engaging, it makes you root for the protagonist's eventual realizations. How far are you willing to go to stay relevant and successful in the modern era? And how much success and relevance is too much? Very pertinent questions like these are answered through fiery exchanges between the leads, against the backdrop of deliciously cooked food (and some grotesque consumption). The film also doesn't shy away from doing its bit on "eating the rich" and speaking in detail of their high-profile perversions. From a thematic perspective, Hunger has as much in common with the Malayalam film Ustad Hotel as the films I mentioned above. Nothing comes above family, I guess?

The scene at the hospital between Nopachai Chaiyanam and Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying is spectacular. Not only does it open eyes to the antagonist's understanding of life, but it also throws darts at the protagonist for the choices she's about to make. Same goes for the climactic showdown between the two, but this section treats celebrity connoisseurs as objects of feeding, hence the lessened impact. If Netflix is doing something right, it's in giving Thai cinema the funding it needs to make competent drama-thrillers like this with great production values and cinematography.

Thai thriller film produced in 2023. This is the second food master movie this year after The Menu. Working in a small family restaurant of their own, the girl cook applies to work for the country's most famous chef, hoping to become a great chef. After the application, he passes the screening, but over time he sees that the job is not at all as he hoped, and that he does not take part in human emotions such as pity, emotionality and compassion on the way to the top.

The movie is about 2 and a half hours, but it is watched with interest. It does not bore the audience, on the contrary, it makes the audience feel the tension it aims at. The story of the chief cook is really nice. There is also the main idea that the artistic meals made here are not meant to satisfy hunger. At the last summit, the size of the price to be paid to be permanent is explained.

There is no sex or nudity in the movie.