Hunger

1966

1h 40m

Drama

List

100%

Tomatometer

5 Reviews

94%

Audience Score

250+ Ratings

Toward the end of the 19th century, destitute, selfless and lonely, Swedish writer Pontus (Per Oscarsson) is trying to piece together a living in a working-class neighborhood. His interactions with the local newspaper lead to frustration when an editor tinkers with an article he's written. What little money he can scrounge he donates to the city's homeless. Frustrated and hungry, Pontus tries to find various jobs that will, at the very least, buy him a meal and alleviate his isolation.

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Penelope Gilliatt

New Yorker

Per Oscarsson’s performance is phenomenal. It rules out any trace of despondency.

Jan 23, 2024

Full Review

Fernando F. Croce

Slant Magazine

Henning Carlsen's version of Knut Hamsun's novel plays out accordingly as harrowing tragedy of disintegration and grim comedy of intransigence.

Rated: 3/4

Aug 22, 2006

Full Review

Bosley Crowther

New York Times

It is a movie to see when you are in the mood for reading a short story that is almost entirely descriptive, hardly narrative, when you are in the mood for reading prose firmly grounded in a time and state of mind.

May 9, 2005

Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

Best of all is the carefully layered lead performance by Per Oscarsson.

Nov 12, 2006

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

The haunting characterization by Oscarsson is what gives this tale of misery its muscle and rawness.

Rated: A

Aug 14, 2006

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Audience Member

Another example of nordic people having cinema making in their blood.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Masterfully done like Hamsun's masterpiece, and no one can disregard Per Oscarsson's brilliant performance.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Brilliant depiction of wandering & hunger, Oscarsson is stunning

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Henning Carlsen's adaption of Sult, by the Nobel winning Norwegian author Knut Hamsun is the only adaption to now. I haven't read the book so I can not entirely judge after what I've seen of the movie. Sult is the story about a Norwegian writer (without no given name) a former farmer who's been driven towards the capital, Christiania thanks to the industrial revolution. He trying desperately to find a job as a writer. He's has no money left. that means he's unable to buy food or pay his rents. But he also very arrogant and want to do everything on his own. He don't want to take money or food from anyone. My opinion about Sult is that it's a good stylistic black and white film with the same setting and mood as in dark industrial city, which Hamsun himself despicable as a disaster. But this movie feels to slow, or it's just me who haven't read the book, but still I give this film a thumbs up.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/08/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Mostly just boring and slightly painful to watch.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Good, but lacks the synesthetic fiber of the book.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

Full Review

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Henning Carlsen

Director

Per Oscarsson

Pontus

Gunnel Lindblom

Ylajali

Sigrid Horne-Rasmussen

Landlady

Birgitte Federspiel

Ylajalis syster

Knud Rex

Hyrestantens man

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Synopsis

Toward the end of the 19th century, destitute, selfless and lonely, Swedish writer Pontus (Per Oscarsson) is trying to piece together a living in a working-class neighborhood. His interactions with the local newspaper lead to frustration when an editor tinkers with an article he's written. What little money he can scrounge he donates to the city's homeless. Frustrated and hungry, Pontus tries to find various jobs that will, at the very least, buy him a meal and alleviate his isolation.

Director: Henning Carlsen
Producer: Henning Carlsen, Göran Lindgren
Screenwriter: Peter Seeberg
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Norwegian
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 23, 2018
Runtime: 1h 40m