Hunger [DVD]

Hunger is a grimly lovely b&w Scandinavian film with a beautifully shaded performance by Swedish actor Per Oscarsson as a prideful, starving writer and philosopher. The performance conveys the character's extreme pain in being physically hungry, while emotionally incapable of being forthcoming about their circumstances by asking for any help. It is quietly agonizing to watch him boast of accomplishments and potential, only to retreat from assistance and reality.The disc is imported with Danish descriptions and English subtitles and options. The quality of the transfer is impeccable. It plays perfectly on my region free player and has English option extras.I'm very grateful to the seller, DaaVeeDee, for importing and stocking the many foreign editions of obscure, classic titles for this niche market.

I will not reiterate what has been said in the very insightful reviews already posted. They speak for themselves.This film, an adaptation of Knut Hamsun's book of the same title, is a truly great film adaptation of a great work of literature.When I first read the book decades ago, it haunted me long afterwards. No less so with this film which brought it all to life.It is fortunate that the film was in fact done in black and white. Color would have detracted from the grim and gritty subject matter of the story.As one who has faced simalar circumstances during several segments of his life, I can only say this really epitomized the experience of isolation, hopelessness and starvation as I knew it to be.It is in a sense a heroic and noble story. Despite the ongoing downward turn of events in the protagonist's life, due to his pride, he is not a begger - due to his ethics, he is not a theif. He is a stoic artist, foolish and hapless perhaps as dreamers tend to be, but one can still admire his character and strength amid his abject difficulties and circumstances.The acting is absolutely superb and though the film is subtitled, nothing is lost of the story and message. This is a film most anyone could go away with sufficient food for thought. If the ratings allowed 6 stars, that is what I would accord it.

For those who haven't read the novel I don't think it is a necessary exercise in order to get something valuable out of the film. That said, having done both, I was in fact a little taken aback by the differences, but then realized that one could not possibly put the trauma written by Hamsun on the screen.The acting is excellent and the lead is very believable as Hamsun's unnamed protagonist. The only problem lies in the story itself. So much of "Hunger" is internal and existential that it is difficult and almost impossible to express it via an actor. That being said Per Oscarsson does an admirable job in an almost impossible role.I want to say that truly I am nitpicking here. It is a compelling and visceral film no matter how you slice it and could be considered required viewing for young filmmakers who are admirers of perhaps the Guy Maddin style and school of directing, just as Hamsun's "Hunger" is a must read for aspiring writers who are devotees of psychological oriented writing. Definitely worth a view and highly recommended.

I loved reading Knut Hamsun's books and when I found this film I was overjoyed to finally see the man in the story Hunger. However I was just a bit disappointed that the actor didn't seem to fit the character in the book. Still it was nice to finally see Hunger come to life.It would be nice if they had made 'Growth of the Soil' in to a film.All in all if you enjoyed reading Hunger then you'll like the film.

Talented Writer/Director Henning Carlsen does excellent work here, as does actor Per Oscarsson in leadrole.Fine adaption of what may be my favorite novel of all time, Knut Hamsun's HUNGER.Waited decades to see this. Finally, when I noticed that the DVD was available on amazon.com, Igot my copy.Great novels don't always make great films; it's true--but this is that rarest of times when the film is actually as good (or, let's say...comes quite close.) That's high praise from me, because my belief has always been that no matter how terrific a filmed version of a fine novel is, it can never be as good as the book.If you love Hamsun's beautifully written novel, you'll enjoy this remarkable film.

This movie is perfect in every detail. Gunnel Lindblom has never been more sensuous, and that is saying a LOT!. I mean a LOT!!!! As a movie that tries to get to the heart of scarcity and lack, it is not for every taste. It is like a tub of ice cold water thrown in one's face . . . it gives you a new perspective. Wakes you up. If you love Scarecrow, Fat City, and Accatone, you will definitely love this!

I wouldn't call it entertaining but it was interesting. I had read half the book, and then decided to watch the movie instead. I suppose it's existential - think I read that somewhere. I'm not an expert on this. To me it felt like an exploration of projection - the psychological phenemon. And also, perhaps jointly, the emotional decay that comes when you are deeply - for real - hungry and can't secure a place to call home. As a film -- it's really quite a lovey genuine character portrait. Very consumate and very smart in it's authenticity. If not a little dry. Worth watching when you feel like something .... like that.

Brilliant cinamatic treatment of Hamsun's early masterpiece. Buy together with the film "Hamsun" with Max von Sydow and you'll understand why William Rose Benet's "Readers Encyclopedia", in it's latest edition no longer bears any references to Hamsun's so called Nazi sympathisizing in occupied Norway. Hamsun stylisticly broke ground for 4 generations of fiction writers from Hesse to Hemingway. Read Robert Ferguson's 1987 "Enigma:The Life of Knute Hamsun" to realize just how closely autobiographical the novel "Hunger" really was. Stunningly acted and photographed. Highly recommended.

I heartily recommend Sult, which I have just watched. It is about the strategies that people adopt to deal with adversity, and how they bolster their self-esteem even if by doing so they harm their own interests - or at least I think that this is what it is about. A very profound film, though not very comfortable watching, and wonderfully shot in black and white in a miserably poor district of Oslo. As Paul Auster says in his talk about the film in the special features, you have the uncanny feeling that you are actually there in 1890. It is one of the greatest films I have ever seen and one which I shall watch again and again.

'Hunger' is based on Knut Hamsun's famous novel of the same name. We follow Pontus, a starving writer, around the streets of Christiania (now Oslo). He's in a constant search for food to assuage his ever-increasing hunger and he's also on a constant quest to get his writing published - primarily so that he can earn money to buy food and pay his rent. Although he has set-back after set-back, Pontus does have the occasional success when his work is published in the local newspaper and, as a result, he gets paid so that he can live a normal life for a short period.Pontus is an annoyingly proud man. He pretends to the outside world that he is living a normal life. For example, he gives money away to beggars - money he so desperately needs himself so as to continue living. He is simply too proud to admit to others that he's starving and needs help. But all the while he manages to maintain his human dignity. A dignity so lacking in many of the people he meets.It sounds bleak but the film is simply wonderful. It's an existential film. God has abandoned Pontus and has left him in a godless world to fend for himself. It's probably because of this that the film is shot in black & white - a black & white which captures the beautiful harshness of Christiania.It is also a film that is both brilliantly directed & acted. It's possibly Henning Carlsen's (the director) masterpiece; and Per Oscarsson excels as Pontus. But the minor characters are equally well acted.The DVD comes with 2 excellent interviews: one 35 minute interview with the director, Henning Carlsen and another 20 minute interview with the author, Paul Auster (who is interviewed by Hamsun's grandaughter). Both interviews (but especially the Auster one) provide valuable insights into the film.'Hunger' is one of Auster's favourite films. And it is now one of mine.

Better than expected