Hunger is a English-made move about the Irish Republican-led “no-wash” and hunger strikes in Belfast’s Maze Prison.  The main character is Bobby Sands, one of the most notable hunger-strikers, but the movie isn’t entirely about his crusade.  To be honest, I bought this movie because I’m generally interested in such things and a friend recommended it to me, but boy was it depressing.  I always knew that Bobby Sands died during the hunger strike and that the prisoners were treated poorly, but this brings all that to life.  In fact, aside from one 20 minute interlude close to the middle of the movie, there are very few moments that won’t turn your stomach or put you on edge.

It’s hard to recommend Hunger unless you’re interested in the conflict in Northern Ireland in the early 80’s, and to be honest it’s probably one of those movies that I’ve seen once but won’t watch again.  It’s not a pleasant movie to watch (for a reason), but it does make you appreciate what those men went through a whole lot more.  I also appreciate that the movie is presented matter-of-factly, and tries its best to stay out of the way with rhetoric.  When you watch Hunger you see a series of events and an occasional conversation, capped by white-on-black text explaining the situation both before and after the movie.

If you’re interested in Hunger please make sure you have a strong stomach going into it.  The last half hour or so you’re basically watching someone starve to death, which isn’t at all pleasant.  That being said if you want to know more about The Maze and prison treatment during “The Troubles” feel free to give it a look.