Shame
Steve McQueen’s second film is concerned with the same theme as his debut – the human body. But, if in Hunger Bobby Sands’ body became a battlefield in his and his prison mates’ struggle, in Shame Brandon Sullivan’s body is his own prison. To quote critic Michał Oleszczyk, the protagonist doesn’t so much live in Manhattan as he does in his own head. On the surface he is a stylish, successful professional. But Brandon has a crippling addiction to sexual stimulation. Emotionally barricaded, his relationships come down to fleeting encounters with strangers. A case study in destructive addiction, Shame is also a trenchant critique of the pervasive commercialization of contemporary life. Once it gets under your skin, it tends to stay for a while.
awards
Venice FF 2011 – FIPRESCI Prize, CinemAwenire Award, Volpi Cup for Best Actor; Black Reel Awards 2012 – Best Screenplay, Best Director; British Independent Film Awards 2011 – Best Actor; Irish Film and Television Awards 2012 – Best Film Actor; London Critics Circle Film Awards 2012 – British Actor of the Year
Steve McQueen
Artist, photographer, sculptor, screenwriter and director Steve McQueen was born in London in 1969. His education includes studies at the Chelsea College of Art and Design. He first came to prominence with video and photography installations and made his short film debut in 1993. His first feature film Hungerpremiered at Cannes and won the coveted Golden Camera in 2008. The film, which recounts the story of a 1981 hunger strike by Irish republican Bobby Sands and others, has collected over 20 awards, including the Grand Prix at the 9th New Horizons. The critically acclaimed Shame is his second film.
Filmography
2008 Głód / Hunger
2011 Wstyd / Shame
2013 Zniewolony. 12 Years a Slave / 12 Years a Slave