I really enjoy when a film lets me know that maybe the hero isn't always right, whether it be in their actions or motivations. We get a little bit of that in Hunger during the long conversation between Bobby Sands and the priest. Both sides believe what they say, but they fail to understand each other. Sands says he does the right thing, but there is clearly a selfish motivation behind it. His choice of words when he says he knows he has the respect of the other boys after saying he did the right thing by drowning the hurt foal shows that, but that makes you think about this idea of doing the right thing for potentially the wrong reasons. It almost doesn't matter what you stand for, because ultimately it just matters that you make your actions and your life mean something to you. You keep yourself moving on by having something to fight for. Life goes by in waves, and from wave to wave you need to have that thing that you believe is worth fighting for. I don't know if I really agree with any of that philosophically, but it at least makes me think.
My knowledge on the history of the so called Troubles is very, very limited, so I don't know how accurate the film is or which side, if any, is the side to be admired. I'm just taking the film at face value and assuming the film is its own universe. Those who know more about Irish history would probably be able to get more out of this.
Outside of the long conversation, this film thrives in its documentary style filming. It looks very good despite also looking like the sh*t splayed and spread across the wall. It's uncompromising in how nasty and brutal it all is. It never feels like anything good will ever happen. For some reason, I like films like that. I probably shouldn't it, but I do.