Island of the Hungry Ghosts

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Island of the Hungry Ghosts

2018

1h 38m

Documentary

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

92%

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24 Reviews

50%

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Fewer than 50 Ratings

During an annual crab migration on Christmas Island, locals perform rituals and a therapist works in the island's asylum seeking detention center.

Critics Consensus

A potent unraveling of human nature's often skewed sense of justice, Island of Hungry Ghosts is alluringly poetic.

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David Stratton

The Australian

The film is beautifully photographed by Michael Latham, has an excellent music score by Aaron Cupples, and is never less than intriguing. But Brady's decision to withhold vital information from the viewer is rather self-defeating.

Rated: 3/5

Mar 15, 2019

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Frank Scheck

Hollywood Reporter

Island of the Hungry Ghosts casts an undeniably hypnotic spell. The documentary also serves as an important reminder that the United States is far from alone in mistreating its would-be immigrants.

Mar 7, 2019

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Jeannette Catsoulis

New York Times

The result is at once acutely distressing and quite lovely, transforming the island into something primitive and inscrutable.

Mar 7, 2019

Full Review

Christopher Llewellyn Reed

Hammer to Nail

It’s a stunning, visceral first feature, announcing the director as a major talent to watch, and watch her movie you should.

Sep 14, 2024

Full Review

Jim Ross

TAKE ONE Magazine

For such an emotive, topical subject it is remarkable the approach ISLAND OF THE HUNGRY GHOSTS not only takes, but succeeds with.

Feb 13, 2020

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Steven Sheehan

The Digital Fix

Not only does the title of Brady's documentary sound like the name of a Apichatpong Weerasethakul film, but the eerie, snail-paced camera pans deep inside the jungle also seem to carry the Thai director's influence.

Rated: 7/10

Feb 6, 2020

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nefasto r

Slow paced, but with a clever approach on a delicate and increasingly important theme: immigration.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

Interesting documentary about Christmas Island detention center and the asylum seekers held there. However, it didn't really hold my attention and i found myself kindof tuning out on some of this.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/02/23

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Gabrielle Brady

Director

Gabrielle Brady

Writer

Gabrielle Brady

Producer

Samm Haillay

Producer

Alex Kelly

Producer

Alexander Wadouh

Producer

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Synopsis

During an annual crab migration on Christmas Island, locals perform rituals and a therapist works in the island's asylum seeking detention center.

Director: Gabrielle Brady
Producer: Gabrielle Brady, Samm Haillay, Alex Kelly, Alexander Wadouh
Screenwriter: Gabrielle Brady
Production Co: Third Films
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: British English
Release Date (Streaming): May 23, 2019
Runtime: 1h 38m

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