Hunger
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Mon 15 December 2008 // 20:00
(Mon 15th and Weds 17th / 8pm / £4/3)
(Babycinema: Weds 17th / 11am / £2, babies free)
(Steve McQueen / 2008 / UK and Ireland / 90 minutes / cert 15)
Turner prize winning visual artist Steve McQueen's first feature is a portrayal of Bobby Sands' hunger strike in Maze prison in 1981. Irish actor Michael Fassbender, who starved himself for two months to play the lead, gives a powerful performance. McQueen avoids explicit reference to the history and politics of Northern Ireland, and with very little dialogue, focuses on the harsh realities of prison life and a heart-wrenching story of a man who was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for his beliefs. Despite this neutral stand-point, there were walk-outs at the Cannes film festival screening. There was also a standing ovation.
(Babycinema: Weds 17th / 11am / £2, babies free)
(Steve McQueen / 2008 / UK and Ireland / 90 minutes / cert 15)
Turner prize winning visual artist Steve McQueen's first feature is a portrayal of Bobby Sands' hunger strike in Maze prison in 1981. Irish actor Michael Fassbender, who starved himself for two months to play the lead, gives a powerful performance. McQueen avoids explicit reference to the history and politics of Northern Ireland, and with very little dialogue, focuses on the harsh realities of prison life and a heart-wrenching story of a man who was willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for his beliefs. Despite this neutral stand-point, there were walk-outs at the Cannes film festival screening. There was also a standing ovation.