Hunger
(1966)
Picture: B- Sound: C Extras: C Film: B
Based on
the novel by Knut Hamsun, Per Oscarsson is Pontus in Henning Carlsen’s 1966
film adaptation of the novel Hunger. The protagonist is an artist and finds
himself in a world where he cannot assimilate, no matter who he talks with and
what he tries to do. Suffering because
he will not compromise, this existential trip begins where he still has the
energy to believe that he can reach even the simplest of satisfactory
connections and contact.
As the
film slowly goes on, he is tormented by those in authority (one police officer
constantly hounds him when sleeping outside homeless) and enough things happen
no matter what that it is apparent that he cannot even find his own private
space and solitude. There are some
clever fantasy/dream sequences where he imagines he has found some sense of
happiness and contact with the best persons, but they do not last. Every time he returns to consciousness,
things get slowly worse.
This is
nicely directed and cast, with very good acting all around. I like the look and feel of the film, its
uses of silence and how it just flows with not a moment wasted. It is a smart film without any pretension,
putting the viewer in the artists place without phony manipulations or illicit
appeals to pity. This is a mature, adult
work that has only become better with age all the way to the ending, which will
cause debates to those who really think about it.
The
anamorphically enhanced 1.66 X 1 pillarboxed, black and white image was shot by
Henning Kristiansen, D.F.F., and it looks pretty good. Detail is not bad, gray scale decent and the
print is in good shape as well. The
Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono shows its age and there are times when there is little
sound to boot. Extras include a stills
section, Carlsen filmography, 38 minutes long on-camera interview with Carlsen
and 26 minutes interview with Regina Hamsun, Knut Hamsun’s granddaughter by
Paul Auster that goes on and on.
However, the film is solid and Hunger
deserves to find a new audience who wants more in their films.
- Nicholas Sheffo
