Critical essay
Q: Choose a film in which setting and atmosphere contribute
more than plot to your appreciation of the text. Justify you
opinion by referring to the elements of the text. (Remember:
disperse examples + comments about elements/film techniques throughout your essay)
The film “Hunger”, directed by Steve McQueen, is about the
“Troubles” in Northern Ireland in the 1980’s between the
Irish Republicans and the British Loyalists and their ongoing
conflict for Northern Ireland’s independence. The setting of
Belfast and The Maze Prison contribute to the atmosphere of
fear, anger and violence as the IRA prisoners fight for political
status. Snapshots of conflict and resistance replace a
continuous plot which help the viewer appreciate the idea that
some religious and political beliefs are worth fighting for.
The setting in “Hunger” helps us to understand the tension and violence
occurring in Northern Ireland at this troubling time. The primary
setting of the film is The Maze Prison in Belfast. The prison can be seen
as a microcosm of the tension and violence occurring in Britain at that
time as what is occurring in greater Belfast, is amplified within the
pressure cooker of the confined prison where issues cannot be avoided.
Because of the close confinement of the setting, emotions are high
between the guards and the prisoners who are demanding political
status. The viewer is encouraged to see this tension through the extreme
close ups taken of the characters faces. Such close ups are confronting
as we cannot step back and distance ourselves from the rage or anguish
the character is expressing. As a viewer of this film, we begin to
understand that in normal society, people can walk away or avoid
conflict, but in the Maze Prison people are forced to confront the
opposing views of others. This often results in anger and violence.
This intense setting creates an atmosphere that is tense, fearful,
dangerous and violent. The prison contains the two extremes who will
do whatever it takes to achieve their aims – the British loyalist guards
who enforce Government rule and the Irish Republican prisoners who
have gone to extreme lengths to fight for their cause. The director uses
characterisation and symbols to help us to recognise and understand the
two opposing sides. The prisoners represent the Republicans who want
independence and political status, whilst the guards represent the order
and control expected by the British Government. This is seen with
symbols of the Union Jack on their key rings and the stiffness of their
uniforms and rigidity in behaviour. This results in violent actions
where each party reacts to the other in their fight for power or voice.
The constant fear and tension in the film is justifiable. For example, in
the introductory scene the director uses a point of view shot as the head
prison guard looks under his car for a bomb. By using a point of view
shot, the viewer is forced to look with the guard and feel the tension and
fear that the guard feels. This helps to create an atmosphere of tension
and uncertainty and is very confronting for the viewer as we are forced
to become involved in the reality of the conflict.
Notable is that there is not a continuous plot in the film as the story is
broken into three triptychs. Each triptych explains an element of the
struggle known as “The Troubles”. The director uses the first triptych
as a narrative which puts the political battle in context and acts as an
anchor explaining what is happening in Northern Ireland at that time.
We see snapshots of quiet Belfast streets juxtaposed with the nervous
guard checking his car and bathing bloody knuckles. These images are
supported by the non-diegetic sounds of Margaret Thatcher’s voice
explaining the British Government’s attitude of “no compromise”
towards IRA prisoners. In the first triptych, we are not shown the
background stories of the characters, but rather, a series of events that
show how the conflict is affecting them personally. Accordingly our
sympathies change as each side is attacked and retaliates. This can be
very disconcerting for the viewer who has difficulty deciding on who is
at fault in this conflict. Snapshots of violence are shown when IRA
prisoner, Bobby Sands is taken away and beaten for resisting prison
rules. Another snapshot of violence which makes us aware of the
justifiable tension is when the head guard is assassinated by an IRA
supporter whilst visiting his mother in a nursing home. It is at this point
that the viewer realises that the tension and fear throughout the film is
realistic and factually based providing documentary type snapshots of a
historical event - rather than a fictional narrative plot.
The second triptych also does not show a continuous plot. This triptich
deals with IRA prisoner, Bobby Sands, debating with his priest his
intention to undertake a hunger strike. During this scene the camera is
fixed between the two characters. This encourages the viewer, not to
take up sides, but to make up their own minds about Sands’ decision.
Again, rather than a continuous plot, the director gives us snippets of
historical information through the characters which explains the
prisoners passion and desire to fight for their cause. The third triptych
again has no real plot but shows Bobby Sands decline and death as he is
determined to fight for his political beliefs. Each of these images
provide the view with historical and personal information in regards to
the dangerous setting and volatile atmosphere, rather than a narrative
storyline which helps the reader understand the passion and
determination of both parties. Whilst it is difficult to appreciate the
reasons why Bobby Sands would impose this death sentence on himself,
this triptych allows the view to appreciate his determination to make a
stand for his political beliefs and sacrifice himself ‘for the greater good’.
The contained setting, tense atmosphere and snapshots of violence helps
the reader appreciate the main issues in the film. It is through the
prisoners that we appreciate their courage to fight for their cause
against strong opposition even if we don’t agree with their methods. We
learn that in the confined setting of the prison, they have little power
and are prepared to go to extreme lengths to make their cause known
and to express their anger at the British loyalists. The fact that many
prisoners died as martyrs for the greater good of their political fight also
helps the reader appreciate their strong convictions and passion for
Northern Ireland’s independence. It is through the prison guards that
we come to appreciate that the Loyalists who were in the majority had
the greater power and were prepared to use this force for their own
benefit. This strength and rigidity shown to the reader when a voice
that we recognise as Margaret Thatcher’s demands “No Compromise”
for the “Common Murderers”. Mainly, the tense atmosphere and
confined setting allows the reader to appreciate how close proximity to
those who oppose you can lead to greater resentment rather than
cooperation and understanding.
Accordingly, “Hunger” is a confronting and violent film which creates a
series of images that reflect the anger, passion and determination of the
IRA prisoners as they fighter for political status and Northern Ireland’s
independence. The lack of continuous plot prevents the viewer from
sympathising with either faction as we are not given background
information but snapshots of events caused by the actions and
retaliations of each group. The intense setting and volatile atmosphere
of “Hunger” therefore helps the viewer to appreciate that some political
beliefs are worth fighting for.