Hunger, Historical drama, Steve McQueen, United Kingdom, Ireland, 2008.
49 victories and 39 nominations
Irlande, 1981. Dans la prison de Maze, des combattants de l’IRA entreprennent une grève de la faim pour défendre leurs droits.
Resisting injustice, denouncing violence or demanding civil rights by going without food carries a moral message: does the suffering inflicted on one's own body call others to action?
The hunger strike, whether individual or collective, as a passive, non-violent means of resistance to injustice, has been used over the past two centuries to force social or political change. But the internalization of a political problem by transforming it into an existential one raises questions. Is sacrifice, or self-sacrifice, an effective form of pressure? Does it arouse compassion? Does it require a certain reciprocity on the part of the community? The debate that follows the screening will invite us to reflect on the different dimensions of this form of devotion, asking questions about the ethical issues it raises as well as its effectiveness.
Speakers:
Aude Hauser-Mottier, psychoanalyste
Renata Latała, historian, University of Geneva
Zdzisław Szmanda OP, théologien et historien
Debate moderator:
Véronique Stenger, historian, University of Geneva
Wednesday 15 November 2023, 6pm, Cinélux
Free entrance - book your tickets here
Cinélux
Boulevard St. Georges 8
1205 Genève
Contact & organization:
Renata Latała, Department of General History (University of Geneva)
Sarah Osman, Département d’histoire générale (Université de Genève)