Hungry Hearts

While we patiently wait for Adam Driver to become a household name, there's plenty of big screen spoils from last year's film festivals to enjoy, including While We're Young and Hungry Hearts. It opens with a misleading, endearing and hilarious meet-cute where Driver and co-star Alba Rohrwacher first fall in love trapped in a bathroom with Driver's own stench. Perhaps sly foreshadowing that their story revolves around nutrition, I didn't expect the film to focus on the 'hungry' part of its 'hearts' while I prepared for something humorous and composed. It's none of those two. While it peaks in its opening minutes, that's not to say there isn't something of worth to follow. The idea of having the diet of a child being the source of conflict between a couple is unique in cinema, but a very real concern. It does paint Rohrwacher as too much of a villain at times but the duo's impeccable performances do their characters justice and it's often heartbreaking. It's such a shame that it's incompetently shot. I get the raw intimate aesthetic, but it feels like rehearsal footage, and when it's being creative with fish eye lenses to distort Rohrwacher's figure, it feels far too on-the-nose. The misguided style holds the film back, but the performances win out.

7/10

Hungry Hearts is a phrase play on words. It is a potent combination of words. The film showcases the blurred sense of what is conceived as normal in modern society. Normal as in interpersonal relationships, honesty, frankness, the depth of knowing one another, as well as in self awareness. The personal freedom, freedom of choices, what is considered to be an informed choice. How long can a partner respect the choices of the loved one? What is love and at what point does it start to turn into crippling obsession or mental illness. When the heart is hungry it clouds the senses. "Its a phase mum, it will pass." If you are in it you can't see the full spectrum of it. A spectator can. A wise grandmother whose heart is not hungry anymore, can feel the real responsibility of bringing up a child of a selfless point of you. It is not about you or your partner, it is about that new person that has been brought into this world hungry!

The opening scene is funny and mortifying at the same time, giving a false sense of a under budgeted romantic comedy to the film, but then it gets darker. The awkwardly sweet duo become one, they fall in love and hit off. Step by step, things get serious and these lovebirds turn into an unnerving couple as the movie gets psychological and somber.

Originally - in the book - in Italy, the story was transposed to New York City because the Italian director thought that it belonged in there. I don't know if I agree completely but given what is depicted in the film I understand this choice.

Saverio Costanzo used tight shots and close ups to bring the intimacy needed for the story. As the story develops each scene gets a shade darker and the intimacy of the shots seem to illustrate Jude (Driver) and Mina (Rohrwacher)'s state of minds. It's subtle and masterfully crafted to bring you a place where you never thought you'd go. The chips fall into place and you realize what you're in for, Mina and Jude start to make sense and a chill crawls up your spine. The slight sense of dread takes over just enough to keep captivated, but not fully engaged to make you too uncomfortable and wary. If it was done any other way it would have probably been too hard to watch, instead, like a car crash you find yourself watching these people on their way down the rabbit hole.

@wornoutspines

Great acting, but for me it was difficult and painful to watch. The plot, combined with the way it was filmed, these weird angels, it was a bit too much.

I have an impression that people disliking this movie just can't stand the harshness of real life or what it can be like. My life and my family life is warmth and mutual trust and understanding, however, I was on the verge of postnatal depression, so i can relate to this. I hate the way Mina reacts, though, but the actress's performance is amazing. I was so depressed when my first child was born - but I always blamed myself. it lasted just for a month or so and I was aware that I wasn't right - it was just mum's striving for perfection - but I can also relate to the fact that there are women who didn't have the support and who just have the wrong perception and this is what i liked about this movie - the reactions of all charters are so believable... Being a parent I felt this so deeply... Adam and Alba, and also Roberta were amazing in their parts. I like the way camera angle changes to show the state of mind of the characters.... The ending could have been just a little bit more elaborated....