Netflix is serving up a tasty hors d'oeuvre with the first set of images from “Hunger”, Netflix’s first Thai film of the year.
An examination of the ugly truth behind the dishes we enjoy, the raw hunger that rests in the deeper recesses of human minds, the film brings a stacked cast whose careers cross paths for the first time. Chutimon “Aokbab” Chuengcharoensukying, Nopachai “Peter” Jayanama and Gunn Svasti. Each actor will bring to life different takes on hunger through the dark side of culinary arts with a spicy script by renowned screenwriter Kongdej Jaturanrasamee — all under the flavourful direction of Sitisiri Mongkolsiri.
The movie opens with Aoy, who is in her 20s and abandons her family’s local stir-fried noodles restaurant to pursue her dream with Hunger — Thailand’s number one luxury chef’s table team. The film follows the culinary journey of Aoy as she experiences the astonishing and cynical world of fine dining and comes face-to-face with her own thirst for success — an all-consuming hunger that threatens to overwhelm her life and what she lived for. Her decision to step into the high-pressure world of fine dining leads her to a bleak question: What will she have to sacrifice to earn those precious chef’s whites?
Aokbab said, “What I like most is that there were times when I had to pull off a difficult scene — such as a cooking scene where playing with fire is an essential element. Cooking would usually be the last thing I would choose to do as I personally prefer baking because it's not as hot. When it comes to cooking, we had to understand how to use the wok and relearn everything — from using knives to slicing fish. Every time I became Aoy, I felt I could overcome many things and easily do what Aoy could do. I feel that Aoy could positively take me to another level. Her commitment, will to win, sincerity and many other aspects of the character really livened me up and gave me the drive to push further forward.”
Starring alongside Aokbab in the role of chef Paul is Nopachai "Peter" Jayanama. While chef Paul’s dishes are the stuff of legends and desired by those at the highest echelons of society, Aoy’s stunning culinary talents end up uncovering his dark side as she comes to realise the true meaning of hunger.
“There’s something to think about and a lot to focus on,” he said. “I must think about how his [Chef Paul] reaction will change in a scene. How will he feel? Personally, I like every scene chef Paul was in. When I returned home, I still felt nostalgia for this character because being chef Paul is radical in terms of emotions — he is a lone wolf. When I got into his character, it's fun and exciting.”
Gunn Svasti rounds out the main cast as Tone, the sous chef (assistant chef) of team Hunger. Tone grapples with the truth of his own eagerness to succeed, says Gunn, adding, “This is the first time I’ve had to take on a role that involves cooking and Tone is a character with a serious life and career, giving this character a lot of responsibility. I’ve had a lot of preparation myself, either by reading books, studying the lives of real chefs and even attending a cooking workshop."
Stay tuned for Aoy’s journey as a chef and the unsavoury corners behind the fine dining world — this April on Netflix. Visit netflix.com.
