Click here to copy URL

Hunger

7.2

10,020

Ratings

Add to lists

where to watch

Pro reviews

Links

Original title

Hunger

Year

2008

Running time

92 min.

Country

Ireland

Director

Steve McQueen

Screenwriter

Steve McQueen, Enda Walsh

Cast

Music

Leo Abrahams, David Holmes

Cinematography

Sean Bobbitt

Producer

Co-production Ireland-United Kingdom;

Blast! Films, Film4 Productions

Genre

Drama | Biography. Prison Drama. IRA. 1980s

Synopsis

Raymond Lohan wearily follows his normal routine: an ordinary man doing the job of a prison officer in the Maze Prison in Northern Ireland, 1981. Working within one of the infamous H-Blocks, where republican prisoners are on the Blanket and No-Wash protest, is a living hell for both prisoner and prison officer. A young, new prisoner Davey Gillen is brought into this environment for the first time. Although terrified, Davey resolutely refuses to wear the prison uniform - he is no common criminal. So joining the Blanket protest, he shares a filthy cell with another ‘non-conforming’ republican prisoner Gerry Campbell. Gerry, hardened to the horrific realities of Maze life, guides Davey through the daily routine, he trains him how to smuggle items and exchange ‘comms’ (communications) with the outside world, passing them on to their H-Block leader Bobby Sands at Sunday Mass.

The prisoners are persuaded to take up the prison regime’s offer of civilian clothes – a potential breakthrough in their struggle to regain political status – only for them to be mocked by the ‘clown clothes’ handed out. A riot erupts. In the mayhem, the prisoners destroy the clean cells they’ve been moved to. The riot is violently crushed with beatings and body searches. The violence spreads beyond the Maze; no prison officer is safe and Raymond is shot dead. Bobby Sands meets Father Dominic Moran. Once the initial humorous banter is out the way, Bobby reveals that he is going to lead a new Hunger Strike to protest for special category status for republican prisoners.

Rankings Position

#88 Best Biopics/Biographical Movies

Awards: 2008: Cannes Film Festival: Camera d'Or (Best First Film)

2008: BAFTA Awards: Best Debut (McQueen). Nominated for Best British Film

2008: Los Angeles Film Critics Association: New Generation Award

2008: Chicago Film Critics Association: Nominated for Most Promising Filmmaker

2009: Film Critics Circle of New York: Best First Film

2008: Chicago Film Festival: Gold Hugo - Best Movie & Silver Hugo - Best Actor (Fassbender)

Show all

Critics' reviews

Movie Soulmates' ratings: Register so you can access movie recommendations tailored to your movie taste.
Friends' ratings: Register so you can check out ratings by your friends, family members, and like-minded members of the FA community.

Ranking Lists Position

30 My Top 10 Movies from 2008 (148)
67 My Favorite British & Irish Movies (38)

Is the synopsis/plot summary missing? Do you want to report a spoiler, error or omission? Please send us a message.
If you are not a registered user please send us an email to [email protected]

All copyrighted material (movie posters, DVD covers, stills, trailers) and trademarks belong to their respective producers and/or distributors.

For US ratings information please visit: www.mpaa.org www.filmratings.com www.parentalguide.org

Hunger

User history