"Hunger" from heart oh Thailand
A street cook takes down a chef
In a dazzling opening scene, the Thai kitchen team is nervously at work. To a jazzy jazz soundtrack, they chop and stir herbs, vegetables and seafood to survive under the chef's unrelenting gaze. The sous chef counts down the hours until, at precisely 11 o'clock, Chef Paul enters the kitchen.
Meanwhile, street cook Aoi works at one of Bangkok's thousands of roadside restaurants. All passersby see and feel her skill, including junior sous chef Toon. He convinces Aoi to enroll as an apprentice to Chef Paul, who runs a decadent establishment called Hunger. He prepares unappetizing and extremely expensive dinners for the upper classes of the Asian country, which smacks of contempt for his clientele. The richest of the rich are happy to throw their money to the wind to devour Chef Paul's works of art.
Aoi seemingly passes the first test of excelling as a professional chef with ease - she is accepted into the team. Under the brutal chef, Aoi begins her journey to the culinary pinnacle, where she and her team must endure countless humiliations and intimidation. The rigid hierarchy in the kitchen serves mainly as an allegory of the vast class differences in Thai society. To that end, director Sitisiri Mongkolsiri and screenwriter Kongdej Jaturanrasamee do not use subtle seasoning, but pepper their message heavily. The funny thing is that the social elite are more likely to just listen to a celebrity chef's name rather than appreciate his cooking. For many of them, blissful feasts are pearls before swine.
Chef Paul's motto for his subjects: learn to break through. His reign exemplifies the heartless world in which the characters find themselves. In this way, Mongkolsiri and Jaturanrasamee paint a black-and-white portrayal of Thailand that, for lack of nuance, sometimes slips into moralizing through skimpy dialogues. "Love and food have nothing in common" says Paul. Cinematographer T-Thawat Thaiphayongvichit, however, manages to better convey the abnormal world through images. From wagyu, rice noodles to whole beef, he manages to perfectly capture all kinds of food as well as the surreal feast of food all around.
Throughout the movie, Aoi manages to break free from Chef Paul's tenacious grip and escape the straitjacket of Thailand's culinary world. In this way, the movie is reminiscent of art house films like "The Menu" and "Parasite," but the plot is more akin to game shows like "Masterchef" or the animated series "Food Wars." In that respect, "Hunger" is a tidbit for the eye, but it's ultimately a five-course menu of individual exotic and tantalizing dishes that unfortunately fail to coalesce into a deeper layer.
Aoi's drastic change in personality and outlook is shown seamlessly. She becomes the very essence she walked away from without even realizing it. Absorbed by wealth and fame, she loses herself amidst the glitz and glamor. Temporarily, she forgets her roots and customer approval becomes her top priority.
Apart from the strong plot, the camerawork and direction are the main exceptional aspect of the narrative. Some scenes feature thought-provoking imagery that showcases the innate nature of human beings. The inclusion of creepy sequences to showcase raw emotion sets an unconventional and eccentric tone that often makes the viewer feel uncomfortable, but the spectacle remains magnificent. Furthermore, throughout the movie, there is a clear commentary on the existing class divide that only a certain section of society enjoys. Even so, the line between rich and poor is often blurred, forcing us to look at some situations from a different perspective.
It would be a grave mistake not to recognize the superb acting of Chutimon Cheungcharensukying. She played her role so convincingly that it often feels like watching a real life story. Nopachai Chaiyanam also stood out with his excellent acting and kept his character ruthless throughout the movie. They complemented each other very well on screen and the work seemed effortless.
The length of the movie may scare some people, but it is well worth your time. It has all the elements of a modern horror story that is scarier than any monster. The story of a hungry student and a controlling teacher makes a strong impression and stays in your mind for days.
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