Hunger is a Thai film about chefs, food and much more. This is an insightful and thrilling drama about our modern society and the complex relationship between humans and food. Usually, Hunger means a compelling need or desire for food. But then, ask yourself, is the ‘Hunger’ only associated with the ‘Food’?
Desire For The Food, Love, Respect, And Much More
However, it expands this idea. So, it is also about people’s hunger for love, fame, money, recognition, relationships, etc. Moreover, some people have an insatiable hunger for all of these things associated with the appetite for food and other human desires.
Spoiler-Free Review: Hunger (2023/Thailand) Movie
The synopsis
Aoy (Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying), a woman in her twenties, runs her family's local stir-fried noodles restaurant in the old quarter of Bangkok. One day, she receives an invitation to leave the family business and join team 'Hunger', Thailand's number one luxury Chef's table team led by the famously ingenious and infamously nasty Chef Paul (Nopachai Chaiyanam).
The world of fine dining experience
After Aoy (Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying) joins the team ‘Hunger’ led by Chef Paul (Nopachai Chaiyanam), he exposes her to the dark sides of the fine-dining industry. The setting of this sharp and intelligent movie is Bangkok, Thailand. However, its ideas and contents carry universal themes. This is true for people and societies around the world. So, the high-priced lavish food dishes served by Chef Paul and his team’s ‘Hunger’ show us the insatiable greed, snobbery, arrogance, and pretensions of the privileged rich class of society.
The eating style of his wealthy clients seemed boorish as they enjoyed his culinary art. What people eat is often defined by their status and affluence level in society.
Insights about the food
Therefore, strangely, this film is a fascinating exploration of how the food we eat defines all of us and our position in society. Therefore, the Chef claims that what you eat represents your social status, it has nothing to do with love. The POOR people eat simply to satisfy their hunger. Meanwhile, for the RICH people, their hunger never really ends. The RICH have no regard for the laws and decorums. They are willing to pay any price for their exclusive experiences with their highly-priced fine-dining experience.
Is the fine dining experience expensive because it’s special? Or is it special because it is expensive? Perhaps something to ponder upon. On a side note, we can say that back home in India, of late, FOOD has taken Religious and Political colours. So, we, people, have a strange relationship with food.
About Chef Paul & Aoy
Now, coming back to the arrogant master Chef Paul and the simpleton pupil Aoy, their chemistry is intense. We never felt so terrified, while watching angry showman Chef Paul throw his weight around in the kitchen. There is no democracy, only dictatorship in that kitchen. Still, her hunger for approval, and for becoming something special forces her to stick around in his kitchen, where raw passion and unhealthy emotions dominate.
The greed and professional jealousy come between Chef Paul and his pupil Aoy, too. But then, some people are blessed with loving family to show them a way and the right path.
The conclusion
Although this film has a predictable storyline, some of its intelligent observations and smart dialogue make it a good film to watch. This culinary art thriller is taken to the next level because of the high-quality acting performances by its talented ensemble cast. Both the protagonist Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying (Aoy) and the antagonist Nopachai Chaiyanam (Chef Paul) have done an excellent job in it. The cinematography and the background music are good too. All of these combine together to make this intense drama from Thailand a good film to watch, indeed.
Rating: Hunger (2023/Thailand) Movie
| FM’s rating | 3.35/5 |
| FM’s short comments | Both actors – Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying (Aoy) and Nopachai Chaiyanam (Paul) shine brightly in this thrilling drama. It story delves into the complex relations that we have with our food. So, it smartly uses food as a tool, to comment on the human flaws and faultlines in our society. |
Poster: Hunger (2023/Thailand) Movie
Key Details: Hunger (2023/Thailand) Movie
| Genre | Drama, Thriller |
| Original language | Thai (from Thailand) |
| Age-restrictions | A (18+) |
| Released in | April, 2023 |
| Duration | 2 hours 26 minutes |
| Writer | Kongdej Jaturanrasamee |
| Director | Sitisiri Mongkolsiri |
| Cast | Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying (Aoy), Nopachai Chaiyanam (Chef Paul), Gunn Svasti Na Ayudhya (Tone), Bhumibhat Thavornsiri (Au), etc. |
| Network | Netflix |
| Taglines | There is a HUNGER that can never be fulfilled. |
Trailer: Hunger (2023/Thailand) Movie
Also, check out the YouTube video link - Aoy Battles for Her Spot | Hunger | Netflix Philippines.
If you like this intelligent movie from Thailand, then go ahead and check out another smart film, Parasite, from Korea.
Featured Image and Poster of Hunger (2023) movie | Netflix.
