Of all the work that has come out of the Troubles - the three decades of political and religious violence that began in the mid-1960s and shook Northern Ireland and beyond - nothing has provided such a brutally austere portrait as Hunger. Some Mother's Son (1996) told the same story - that of the hunger strikers - with a lighter stylistic touch. And In the Name of the Father (1992), with its all-star cast and Bono-laced soundtrack, was an emotive crowd-pleaser (it was nominated for seven Academy Awards).
Hunger, directed by the Turner Prize-winning artist Steve McQueen, focuses on the protests that took place at the notorious Maze prison in Northern Ireland during the late 1970s, and culminated in the hunger strikes of 1980 and 1981.
The IRA inmates' aim was to restore their status as political prisoners. Following the British government's removal of paramilitary prisoners' special-category status in 1976, they initially protested by refusing to wear prison uniform, choosing instead to fashion garments out of prison blankets. This soon escalated into the "dirty protests", in which they refused to leave their cells, which meant they were unable to wash or slop out.
The subsequent hunger strikes, which saw 10 people die, were a last resort that served to fuel support for the republican cause and gave the IRA's political wing, Sinn Fein, the power to start contesting elections - an act that ultimately propelled them into mainstream politics.
As it happens, bar the odd reedy interjection from Margaret Thatcher and concise opening and closing captions, there is little here in the way of political context. Instead, the focus is on the steady dehumanisation of the prisoners, who, refusing to wash or cut their hair, look like cavemen. In turn, they are treated as such by the guards, who have the unenviable task of occasionally beating them into bathing and hosing down their filthy cells.
Their squalor and misery are flawlessly depicted in beautifully shot, usually silent scenes: a prisoner repeatedly attempts to entice a fly on to his finger; a guard methodically mops a filthy corridor. For the first hour of the film, there is barely any dialogue at all. Just the horror and futility of the protest, as the British government refuses to back down.
Then we are introduced to Bobby Sands (Fassbender), who has plans to implement a second hunger strike (the first was called off when the authorities provisionally agreed to some of their demands, then reneged, to the prisoners' fury). In a masterfully shot, unbroken 20-minute take, in which the prisoner and a Roman Catholic priest sit face to face amid coils of smoke, Sands rationalises his plan. Even if they do all die, he says, it will inspire a new generation of people to follow them. It is the pivotal point in the film before we see Sands descend into the horrors of starvation and a grim end.
Fassbender had to do practically just that for 10 weeks to achieve the necessary degree of emaciation (Sands died after 66 days); and it is something to behold. As if to explain the true horror of Sands's ordeal, we are subjected to a doctor's prognosis of organs failing, and shown graphic scenes of bodily decay. Their struggle, the film says, was utterly without glamour.
Even more thought-provoking than the brilliantly evoked sense of abjection and Fassbender's mesmerising performance, is the film's abstention from comment. The guards are depicted as being brutal, but not without a human side. The prisoners are shown almost as animals, but unswervingly loyal to their cause. Both are, to an extent, demonised. And we are shown the price paid on both sides of the conflict when one of the prison guards is viciously murdered while visiting his elderly mother in a care home.
There are moments when McQueen seems to be revelling in his artfulness. And protracted shots of cloudy skies, falling snow and drifting feathers, while adding a succinct contrast to the hell indoors, prevent the pace from ever getting past a crawl. But this is not a traditional political drama. And the sense of claustrophobia and suffering would perhaps not have been so successfully realised without it.
McQueen is an artist whose previous work has consisted of installations, so this shift to the big screen is exceptional. But his depiction of the human aspect of the drama, and the depths to which people will lower themselves for their beliefs, is a work of art in itself.
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The five pillars of Islam
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
End of free parking
- paid-for parking will be rolled across Abu Dhabi island on August 18
- drivers will have three working weeks leeway before fines are issued
- areas that are currently free to park - around Sheikh Zayed Bridge, Maqta Bridge, Mussaffah Bridge and the Corniche - will now require a ticket
- villa residents will need a permit to park outside their home. One vehicle is Dh800 and a second is Dh1,200.
- The penalty for failing to pay for a ticket after 10 minutes will be Dh200
- Parking on a patch of sand will incur a fine of Dh300
T20 World Cup Qualifier fixtures
Tuesday, October 29
Qualifier one, 2.10pm – Netherlands v UAE
Qualifier two, 7.30pm – Namibia v Oman
Wednesday, October 30
Qualifier three, 2.10pm – Scotland v loser of qualifier one
Qualifier four, 7.30pm – Hong Kong v loser of qualifier two
Thursday, October 31
Fifth-place playoff, 2.10pm – winner of qualifier three v winner of qualifier four
Friday, November 1
Semi-final one, 2.10pm – Ireland v winner of qualifier one
Semi-final two, 7.30pm – PNG v winner of qualifier two
Saturday, November 2
Third-place playoff, 2.10pm
Final, 7.30pm
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More on animal trafficking
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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RESULTS
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group 1 (PA) Dh119,373 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner: Brraq, Adrie de Vries (jockey), Jean-Claude Pecout (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Taamol, Connor Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
7.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (Turf) 1,800m
Winner: Eqtiraan, Connor Beasley, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
8.15pm: UAE 1000 Guineas Trial (TB) Dh183,650 (D) 1,400m
Winner: Soft Whisper, Pat Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor.
9.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh105,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Hypothetical, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer.
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,000m
Winner: Etisalat, Sando Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
More coverage from the Future Forum
Ten10 Cricket League
Venue and schedule Sharjah Cricket Stadium, December 14 to 17
Teams
Maratha Arabians Leading player: Virender Sehwag; Top picks: Mohammed Amir, Imad Wasim; UAE players: Shaiman Anwar, Zahoor Khan
Bengal Lions Leading player: Sarfraz Ahmed; Top picks: Sunil Narine, Mustafizur Rahman; UAE players: Mohammed Naveed, Rameez Shahzad
Kerala Kings Leading player: Eoin Morgan; Top picks: Kieron Pollard, Sohail Tanvir; UAE players: Rohan Mustafa, Imran Haider
Pakhtoons Leading player: Shahid Afridi; Top picks: Fakhar Zaman, Tamim Iqbal; UAE players: Amjad Javed, Saqlain Haider
Punjabi Legends Leading player: Shoaib Malik; Top picks: Hasan Ali, Chris Jordan; UAE players: Ghulam Shabber, Shareef Asadullah
Team Sri Lanka Cricket Will be made up of Colombo players who won island’s domestic limited-overs competition
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
More on animal trafficking
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Why your domicile status is important
Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.
Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born.
UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.
A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
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Off-roading in the UAE: How to checklist
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
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Turkish Ladies
Various artists, Sony Music Turkey
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
