Hunger (1966 film)

Hunger (Danish: Sult) is a 1966 black-and-white Danish-Norwegian-Swedish drama film directed by Henning Carlsen, based upon the semi-autobiographical novel Hunger (Norwegian: Sult) by Norwegian author Knut Hamsun. It stars Per Oscarsson as Pontus, an impoverished writer wandering the streets of late 19th-century Oslo (then Christiania).

The film is a depiction of the physical and psychological effects of extreme hunger and poverty on an individual's mental state. Pontus struggles to maintain his dignity and intellectual integrity while battling starvation, loneliness, and despair. He drifts through the city, attempting to find work and lodging while simultaneously grappling with intense emotional turmoil. His interactions with other characters, particularly a young woman named Ylajali (played by Gunnel Lindblom), highlight his profound isolation and the societal indifference he faces.

Hunger is notable for its stark realism and its unflinching portrayal of human suffering. Oscarsson's performance is widely considered a tour-de-force, capturing the protagonist's gradual descent into madness with unsettling intensity. The film was critically acclaimed upon its release and is now regarded as a landmark of Scandinavian cinema. It won the award for Best Actor (Per Oscarsson) and a Special Technical Prize at the 1966 Cannes Film Festival. The film is considered a seminal work in psychological drama and is noted for its innovative use of cinematography to convey Pontus's fractured mental state.