HUNGER
(director: Sitisiri Mongkolsiri; screenwriter: Kongdej Jaturanrasamee; editors: Manussa Vorasingha/Abhisit Wongwaitrakarn; cast: Nopachai Jayanama (Chef Paul), Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying (Aoy), Gunn Svasti (Tone), Bhumibhat Thavornsiri (Au), Kenneth Won (Party Guest); Runtime: 130; MPAA Rating: NR; producers: Soros Sukhum/Kongdej Jaturanrasamee; Netflix; 2023-Thailand-in Thai with English subtitles)
“A predictable but tasty foodie-drama.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
A predictable but tasty foodie-drama directed by Thai filmmaker Sitisiri Mongkolsiri (“Inhuman Kiss”) and is written by Kongdej Jaturanrasamee. The up-and-coming Asian actress Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying, a model turned actress, gives a delicious performance in a starring role. It’s an overlong and over-cooked film that comes with a good message about the importance of cooking with a love for food that regular people eat.
Aoy (Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying), a twenty-something, obscurely works in her father’s street-side noodle restaurant in Bangkok, catering to the working-class folks, when invited by the renown but egotistical Chef Paul (Nopachai Jayanama), a top chef of the fine-dining world catering to the rich, to train under him at his Hunger restaurant. Paul’s sous chef, Tone (Gunn Svasti), makes contact with her at the noodle restaurant.
At her audition, she gets the job by cooking a simple fried rice dish. Later she is distracted when she finds her mentor is arrogant and nasty. She also discovers he doesn’t cook out of love but for his need to be loved. Nevertheless she takes the job because she yearns to be recognized in the food field as an influential chef, who values the benefits of eating healthy foods that are simply prepared with love.
It fares well when compared to other recent foodie films like Menu, but didn’t overwhelm me.
REVIEWED ON 4/18/2023 GRADE: B