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Cast: Adam Driver, Alba Rohrwacher
New York City newlyweds Jude (Adam Driver of Girls, Inside Llewyn Davis and This Is Where I Leave You) and Mina (Alba Rohrwacher of I Am Love, The Wonders and Bliss) have a seemingly perfect relationship. But things take an unsettling turn with the birth of their son. Convinced that the baby must be kept free of all contaminants, Mina develops fanatical obsessions with veganism, cleanliness and purity that may kill the child unless Jude can stop her. With stunning performances from Driver and Rohrwacher, who won Best Actor and Best Actress at the Venice Film Festival, the intense psychological drama HUNGRY HEARTS suggests that sometimes a parent's love can be the scariest thing of all.
The film opens with a very funny scene. Jude and Mina first meet in a restaurant bathroom. Jude is using the bathroom and Mina enters the mens room by mistake but when she goes to leave the door is jammed and will not open. They hit it off from there and before you know it Mina is pregnant and the two are married and living in New York. But after getting pregnant Mina changes. She isn't the same girl but Jude takes it in stride hoping things will get better after the baby is born but things only get worse. Mina wants to raise their son without outside help from the doctors and she doesn't want the baby eating any meat or other contaminants. When Jude finds out their son isn't growing like other babies he decides to take extreme measures against his now disturbed wife.
"Hungry Hearts" is a disturbing film about a mother's love that goes beyond the realm of reality. It is a bit slow moving, relying on its characters and the dialogue to carry the story so I do not think it will be for everyone but for those of you that like this sort of drama then I recommend checking it out. The film is a must-see if for nothing else for its two lead actors and their terrific performances. Alba Rohrwacher and Adam Driver are amazing as Mina and Jude. The rest of the supporting cast did a great job as well but the two leads carry the film from beginning to end.
IFC Films theatrical release, was nominated for seven David di Donatello Awards (Italy's Oscars), including Best Film and for good reason. An Intriguing yet disturbing film that you can't look away from. It will have you on the edge of your seat all the way up to its shocking ending. Available now on DVD, you can order it HERE.
Full of drama and suspense, I highly recommend checking this out.
Released by IFC Films
**** Out Of *****