Proving that it is determined to invest in Asian productions, leaving the Europe-America axis a little, Netflix released its new Thai drama. Entitled Hunger for Successthe film even resembles the acclaimed O Menu in some moments, but it abuses the drama to distance itself from the feature and ends up weaving a good social critique, although a little biased.
To begin with, the story accompanies Aoy, a young woman who works at her family’s bar and whose professional life is not very prominent. One day, she receives a card inviting her to audition at Hunger, famous chef Paul’s restaurant. A bit suspicious, the young woman accepts the invitation and soon becomes a member of the team. But what seemed like a dream quickly turns into a nightmare as the renowned cook arrives on the scene dressed in arrogance and bad character.
From then on, what we see is a succession of shouts and orders, and crestfallen employees trying to somehow stand out in the famous chef’s kitchen. With good gastronomic scenes and an interesting plot at first, the film manages to hold the viewer’s attention, and the first hour and a half of the screen goes by quickly without major problems.
The Main Course: A Man Destroyed by His Own Arrogance
From the second half onwards, Aoy leaves the famous restaurant for not agreeing with the boss’s attitude and starts working in another successful place. From then on, the two fight a kind of war, where the protagonist is only interested in being able to do her job well and boss Paul wants to destroy her anyway.
Through simple but well-structured dialogues, Hunger for Success justifies such arrogance by the boss with a basic premise: the dream of the oppressed is to become the oppressor. For having been a poor child, son of a maid and having grown up watching the boss’s son eat the best, Paul promised himself that one day he would also have access to all of this. And when he finally gets what he wants, he becomes a renowned egomaniac who cares neither for the food he cooks nor for the people who eat it.
When you have more than enough to eat, your hunger won’t go away!
One of the most worked points in the social criticism of the film is that those who do not need to worry about money and, consequently, with hunger, do not necessarily care about what they are eating, but rather about reinforcing a message of superiority towards the lower classes. .
In the party scene — one of the best in the film — Aoy and Paul face off to see who can best entertain the rich locals. While the young cook’s food is focused on the simple and traditional, the chef makes a grotesque and bizarre show by cutting up a huge piece of meat and cooking it right there in front of everyone.
The wealthy, amazed by what they are seeing, gather around Paul, cheering him on once more, but as soon as his image is destroyed by an internet video, everyone turns against him, proving that what really matters is the appearances.
Social criticism and the glamorization of poverty
Following this line, Hunger for Success succeeds in making a social critique addressing the main points of the rich relationship versus poor, and bringing an important reflection: why can only those who have money have access to a quality meal? Why can’t the poor eat well?
At various times in the film, it is easy to forget that the plot is weaving a portrait of Thailand and think that it is talking about Brazil, or Venezuela, or Cuba, or any other country where social inequality is striking.
Despite this, there is a question in the text that bothers. After becoming a successful boss through her own work, Aoy is questioned by everyone around her: family, friends and even Paul blame her for her success.
Thus, the message remains that rising in life — even if honestly — is proof of bad nature or error. After having managed to extricate herself from an abusive professional relationship and having filled a restaurant on her own, the protagonist abandons her entire career to return to the bar of the beginning: her family’s.
Thus, poor again and experiencing difficulties, she achieves the redemption expected by all, but there is a “what” of glamorization of poverty that irritates and makes it seem that the place of the poor is the same: in misery.
Is Hunger for Success worth watching?
Netflix’s new Thai film pleases on many points, mainly in terms of pace: it’s not slow to make you sleepy and not rushed to spoil the script. The performances are also good, especially the protagonist played by Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying.
The nuisance lies precisely in the bias of criticism, which somehow reinforces the oppressive system of social inequality. Even so, it is worth giving it a chance, especially since it is an Asian production — which, although it has been gaining prominence in Brazil, is still little seen by us.
Anyone who wants to watch and draw their own conclusions can now press play on Hunger for Success already Netflix.
