Hunger (1986 film)

This article is about the Australian film. For the Egyptian film, see The Hunger (1986 film).

1986 Australian TV series or program

Hunger

Written by| Louis Nowra
Directed by| Stephen Wallace
Starring| Brendan Higgins
Melita Jurisic
Music by| Nathan Waks
Country of origin| Australia
Original language| English
Production
Producer| Jan Chapman
Cinematography| Julian Penney
Editor| William Russo
Running time| 90 mins
Production company| ABC
Original release
Network| ABC
Release| 10 October 1986 (1986-10-10)

Hunger is a 1986 Australian TV film about a Romanian refugee who settles in Australia.[1]

## Plot summary

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## Cast

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* Brendan Higgins as Michael Radulesco
* Melita Jurisic as Ileana Radulesco
* Paul Chubb as Caffrey
* Cathy Downes as Sue Saunders
* John Bell as Romanian Consul
* Briony Behets as Mrs. Levey

## Production

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Louis Nowra wrote the film for Jan Chapman following their successful collaboration on Displaced Persons. He says the subject matter was close to Chapman's heart, and the producer thought it would be a romantic story. However the more research Nowra did, the less romantic he felt the story was and he had a deal of trouble writing it as a love story. He felt swamped with the research and did not like the real life men on whom the story was based. Nowra was not satisfied with the final script, although he said the director did the best he could. Nowra also plays a support role.[2]

## Reception

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Anna Murdoch of the Age writes "HUNGER, the telemovie written by Louis Nowra, never realises it's promise as powerful drama. It should have done so, for the subject is powerful - a young Romanian on a hunger strike to get his wife out to Australia."[3] In the Sydney Morning Herald Chris Purcell says "Hunger is a very good film. Higgins and Jurisic play their roles with plenty of style, working with a strong supporting cast that includes John Bell and Briony Behets."[4] Mark Mordue, also in the Sydney Morning Herald, states "Hunger is another significant triumph in this Jan Chapman-produced series of Australian telemovies."[5] A capsual review in the same masthead gives it two stars (out of 4) calling it "Another quality ABC telemovie."[6]

## References

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1. ^ Ed. Scott Murray, Australia on the Small Screen 1970-1995, Oxford Uni Press, 1996 p83
2. ^ Interview with Louis Nowra at Lumina accessed 11 March 2014
3. ^ Murdoch, Anna (9 October 1986), "Starved of appeal", The Age
4. ^ Purcell, Chris (5 October 1986), "Love is the food to satisfy Hunger", The Sydney Morning Herald
5. ^ Mordue, Mark (6 October 1986), "Romainia: one an's search for freedom dramatised", The Sydney Morning Herald
6. ^ "This week's film - Guide run-down", The Sydney Morning Herald, 6 October 1986

## External links

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* Hunger at Peter Malone site
* Hunger at IMDb
* Hunger at AllMovie

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Films directed by Stephen Wallace

* The Love Letters from Teralba Road (1977)
* Stir (1980)
* The Boy Who Had Everything (1984)
* Hunger (1986) (TV)
* For Love Alone (1986)
* Olive (1988)
* Blood Oath (1990)
* Turtle Beach (1992)

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