Hunger (2023) is a drama film revolving around Aoy, a young cook who enters the cut-throat world of fine dining and learns firsthand how demanding it can be. The film is streaming on Netflix.
Story
Aoy is a talented cook who is invited to join ‘Hunger’, an exclusive chef’s table team led by the strait-laced Chef Paul. While the allure of becoming a top chef draws her in, she soon finds out how demanding the journey can be.
She goes through much abuse and trials and tribulations to prove herself but sets out on her own after observing that there is no line that Chef Paul will not cross.
Aoy meets with a restaurateur who backs her to make a name for herself and she slowly turns into the worst version of herself in her quest to gain recognition.
When she is pitted against her former mentor in one final test of skill, she realizes the true worth of fame and how there are things much more important and precious in life.
Performances
Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying plays the doe-eyed Aoy who has her spirit trampled upon, leaving her to build it back up again. Chuengcharoensukying is genuine and easy to root for in this film with a solid performance.
Nopachai Jayanama plays Chef Paul, the final boss in Aoy’s journey. Jayanama plays the typical perfectionist chef brilliantly and there is true emotion within his performance. He’s a villain that truly exists in the real world and Jayanama portrays him with distinction.
Positives
The film does a magnificent job of depicting the ridiculousness of fine dining culture and how it is tied to the socio-economic backgrounds of the people. It is made very clear that rich people are perpetually hungry and rarely appreciate their means.
The camera work is fabulous throughout the film. The close-up shots of the food and the people’s faces in the kitchen or while they’re eating are hypnotic with every bead of sweat or drop of sauce being accentuated.
There’s almost a performative aspect to the scenes of people consuming these meals as Chef Paul usually watches them with an air of superiority because he’s achieved his dream. It’s like he’s standing right in the middle of contemporary performers putting on a show.
Negatives
The pace of the film does drag on a little and they overcompensate with a sped-up version of Aoy’s rise to a known chef in charge of her own kitchen. That section of the film felt different from the rest.
Verdict
Hunger (2023) reminds viewers of films like Whiplash and The Menu, with overlapping themes and while the story arc is slightly predictable, that doesn’t pull anything away from the fact that it is a truly compelling narrative.
There are a couple of minor drawbacks but overall, Hunger is definitely an engaging experience from start to finish.
Also Read: Hunger (2023) ending explained: Does Aoy make it as a top chef?