Hunger (2023) – Review/ Summary (with Spoilers)
“Hunger” might be a wonderful lesson about the cooking industry, but it doesn’t tap as deeply into its underdog story as it could have.
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“Hunger” might be a wonderful lesson about the cooking industry, but it doesn’t tap as deeply into its underdog story as it could have.
| Director(s) | Sitisiri Mongkolsiri |
| Screenplay By | Kongdej Jaturanrasamee |
| Based On | Story By Kongdej Jaturanrasamee, Sitisiri Mongkolsiri |
| Date Released (Netflix) | April 8, 2023 |
| Genre(s) | Drama, Young Adult,
Non-English (Thai) |
| Duration | 2 Hours 10 Minutes |
| Content Rating | TV-MA |
| Noted Cast | |
| Aoy | Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying |
| Tone | Gunn Svasti |
| Tos | Varit Leesavan |
| Chef Paul | Nopachai Chaiyanam |
This content contains pertinent spoilers.
Film Summary
Aoy was but the eldest child of a semi-retired restaurant owner. She was the chef, immensely talented, but also relatively unknown. That changed when a man named Tone recruited her for the restaurant he worked at, “Hunger.” There, Aoy, a girl within arm’s reach of poverty, found herself trained and working for a company that served generals, the 1%, all under the guidance of Chef Paul.
But, as it becomes clear Chef Paul’s authority is abusive, he holds very little loyalty, and the business behind cooking isn’t what Aoy expected it to be, she begins to question whether she has what it takes to rise to his level, as she learns it isn’t the taste what matters, as much as presentation and notoriety.
Things To Note
Why Is “Hunger” Rated TV-MA
- Dialog: Occasional cursing
- Violence: Stabbing, violence against animals, blood, depiction of a murder-suicide
- Sexual Content: None
- Miscellaneous: Drinking and smoking
Question(s) Left Unanswered
- What was the state of Aoy and Tone’s relationship, never mind Aoy and Tos, after her decision?
Character Descriptions
Please Note: This character guide is not an exhaustive list of every cast member, and character descriptions may contain what can be considered spoilers.
Aoy
Aoy is the eldest of three children, with a younger brother and sister. She works in the family restaurant, where her father mainly manages finances. Being a cook is something more so inherited than potentially something she always inspired to do, but with the compliment of her cooking comes her no longer seeing this as a job to put food on the table, but rather a career that could become fulfilling.
- You May Also Know The Actor From Being: Anne in “Faces of Anne,” Lita in “Bad Romeo,” and Jean in “Happy Old Year.”
Tone
Hardworking and a junior sous-chef at “Hunger” when Aoy meets him, Tone’s interest in Aoy doesn’t appear to be limited to her cooking. But their relationship gets complicated as her star rises and he hits a glass ceiling.
- You May Also Know The Actor From Being: Win in “Toosies & The Fake” and “Diary of Tootsies.”
Chef Paul
Meticulous, ruthless, and sometimes outright hateful, Chef Paul has both a reputation within his kitchen and outside of it. But, while some may see him hard to work for, as for working with or hiring him? He is considered a notable talent, enviable to have at any function. Whether you are old money or new money.
- You May Also Know The Actor From Being: Bunthing in “King Naresuan” franchise
Tos
Tos is an investor in restaurants who wanted to work with Chef Paul for quite some time but was rebuffed since Tos’ money comes with strings attached, as he pursues making back his investment and then some.
Review
Our Rating: Mixed (Divisive)
Highlights
Depiction Of The Restaurant Industry
While working in a restaurant is rarely, if ever, depicted as glamorous, what “Hunger” does differently is show you what it means to build up a brand behind a chef. Yes, their menu, consistency, and presence are part of what the brand is. However, as Chef Paul increasingly reveals, sometimes it is less about the food and more about the name. The experience and status of it all matter more than the sustenance.
It’s all quite interesting, and as Aoy comes to realize this, you see a shift in her and how she approaches not only food but the concept of what it means to be a chef.
On The Fence
If You’re Looking For A Emotional Story, This Isn’t It
Does Aoy come from humble beginnings? Yes. Does she have an underdog story as she earns her spot in Chef Paul’s kitchen and shows she belongs in “Hunger?” Also, yes. However, this is not your usual underdog story, even with her father becoming sick, the stress of her job, or even a moral dilemma or two. Chuengcharoensukying shows great capabilities of tapping into that kind of story and bringing you to tears due to an immense investment in what is going on with her character, but it seems “Hunger,” as a movie, never wants to take it that far – which is immensely strange for a movie over two hours long.
Chef Paul – The Meek Villain and Inept Mentor
You may think, like many a mentor/ boss, Chef Paul would be a force to be reckoned with both in the kitchen and as a person expected to acclimate his employees to an industry that requires sacrifice. However, that isn’t the case. We do learn what got Chef Paul into cooking and learn he basically has nothing but his work, but we don’t get beyond the surface.
He is more of a meek villain, someone deserving of the negative reactions he experiences, and an inept mentor since he doesn’t teach directly but by example. Mainly, Chef Paul acts as an example of how not to be a head chef, both in running your kitchen and sacrificing any semblance of humanity.
Leaving you with a man who certainly has a presence but lacks the depth expected or needed to truly be worth the pedestal he is put on.
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