HUNGER AND WHAT RICHARD DID

HUNGER AND WHAT RICHARD DID

This week we go to Ireland; first up is a trip to the Maze prison with HUNGER, based on the true story of 1981 hunger strike leader Bobby Sands who died after a 66 day protest against the removal of Special Category Status. The reason why I love this film is the approach Steve McQueen takes to the subject mater creatively and visually it is stunning, even if you were to cover your ears for the entire length of the film you would still come away emotionally affected by what you had just viewed. Taking such a contentious subject and turning it into such a compelling watch takes not just skill but genius and an innate understanding of visual language. Next up is WHAT RICHARD DID set in the south side of Dublin amongst a privileged set of teenagers preparing for university, when their lives are turned up side down when golden boy Richard commits an act that will shatter the lives of those closest to him. Lenny Abrahamson’s claustrophobic, searching examination of social class and verging adulthood is a gripping account of growing up in modern Ireland.