Fome de Sucesso

Tries to hard, but I still found this movie enjoyable. All the ingredients for a great movie are here, but they have been overcooked into a kind of mainstream stew.

Acting performances are for the most on point. Presentation and production value are there and deliver. Basically most aspects are done pretty well. But sometimes it is very over dramatic, ridiculous and features a few tropes. It comes across self-indulgent and takes itself too seriously.

Apart from that, you will find a mostly interesting story that takes one or two unexpected turns and is well executed. It offers a little change if you're currently having a limited palette.

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.

The Thai food movie that's a mix of "The Menu" and "Whiplash" is somewhat similar in some ways, but it's not entirely a copy because it has its own storyline. The story is about a middle-class girl who dreams of elevating herself in high society by showcasing her cooking skills. However, her successful recipe doesn't make her as famous as she expected, and the villainous chef is straightforwardly evil. The characters lack depth in the latter part of the movie, turning it into a typical good vs. Evil scenario, leading to a happy ending that's too easy and predictable. Darker viewers may be slightly disappointed, but overall, the movie is enjoyable, with the lead actor charmingly portraying the role, making the viewers engaged in every scene. There are many beautifully shot cooking scenes, and the production value is high. It is the first Thai movie on Netflix that feels like it has reached a high international standard.

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.

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.