Review | Netflix movie review: Hunger – rising Thai actress shines as a trainee cook under an egocentric celebrity chef in food-centric drama

Sitisiri Mongkolsiri’s film about a street-food cook hired to train under a fine-dining chef is predictable but enjoyable, with seething portrayals of the rich

Thai actress Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying gives a stellar turn in the lead role, and continues to prove herself one of Asia’s finest young actresses

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Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying (left) and Gunn Svasti Na Ayudhya in a still from Hunger, a food-centric drama about Thailand’s rich-poor divide co-starring Nopachai Chaiyanam and directed by Sitisiri Mongkolsiri. Photo: Netflix

Published: 10:00pm, 4 Apr 2023Updated: 11:29am, 26 Jun 2023

4/5 stars

Thai model turned actress Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying, also known as Aokbab, continues to prove herself one of Asia’s finest young performers with her portrayal of a street cook turned celebrity chef in Sitisiri Mongkolsiri’s new drama Hunger.

While the plot, in which Aoy (Chutimon) is plucked from obscurity to train under a notoriously intimidating master chef, offers few surprises on its way to a wholly predictable outcome, her effortless charisma in front of the camera, coupled with the director’s flair for extravagant set pieces, guarantee a thoroughly palatable experience.

Aoy is first introduced cooking simple pad see ew fried noodles at her family’s modest street-side restaurant. She is approached by Tone (Gunn Svasti Na Ayudhya), a sous chef working at Hunger, an elite establishment run by culinary maestro Chef Paul (Nopachai Chaiyanam).

She is invited to audition for a fry chef position and lands the gig after creating a simple fried rice dish. Soon she comes to discover, however, that her new boss is arrogant, vindictive and egotistical, and cooks not out of love but rather a desire to be loved.

Nevertheless, Aoy also wants to be special, even if it means walking away from her family’s business.