British artist Steve McQueen, who won the Turner Prize in 1999, directs his first feature film, a portrayal of life in the Maze Prison in Northern Ireland in the midst of the Troubles. Shocking at times yet visually dazzling and thought-provoking, Hunger is arguably one of best directorial debut in recent years.
“This is a powerful, provocative piece of work, which leaves a zero-degree burn on the retina.” The Guardian
The feature will be preceded by the screening of a short film and a talk with Lewisham-based artist Dryden Goodwin, who uses film, drawings, photography and large-scale installations in his art. Goodwin’s work has been shown nationally and internationally, including at Tate Modern, Tate Britain and MOMA.
“Dryden Goodwin’s installation Flight has a dreamlike quality.” Time Out
Steve McQueen / UK 2008 / 91 min / cert: 15
Steve McQueen / UK 2008 / 91 min / cert: 15
British artist Steve McQueen, who won the Turner Prize in 1999, directs his first feature film, a portrayal of life in the Maze Prison in Northern Ireland in the midst of the Troubles. Shocking at times yet visually dazzling and thought-provoking, Hunger is arguably one of best directorial debut in recent years.
The feature will be preceded by the screening of a short film and a talk with Lewisham-based artist Dryden Goodwin, who uses film, drawings, photography and large-scale installations in his art. Goodwin’s work has been shown nationally and internationally, including at Tate Modern, Tate Britain and MOMA.
“This is a powerful, provocative piece of work, which leaves a zero-degree burn on the retina.” The Guardian
“Dryden Goodwin’s installation Flight has a dreamlike quality.” Time Out
A stunning film – so unrelenting, so visceral and textured – devastating to watch, it heightens your senses at every turn – there isn’t a moment of the film when you’re let off the hook to regain your equilibrium. Shockingly impressive -beautiful, ugly, unbearable – an amazing film to have seen! Thanks for programming it. There’s a very compelling interview with McQueen on Channel 4 site http://www.channel4.com/film/reviews/feature.jsp?id=166630
Here are some comments we received about the evening:
“Dryden was a very engaging speaker. First short was very enjoyable.”
“I very much enjoyed the first short. Brilliant.”
“Very interesting discussion.”
“Very interesting speaker and films.”
“Grim” (presumably re. Hunger…)