Maybe a better question would be, "Is there a movie like 'Hunger'"?
He's in every scene. The people he meets along the way aren't important, and take up no more than a few seconds. He's a writer who can't eat because he can't write. He can't write because he doesn't eat. The little money he makes, he gives away. He's in a battle with himself.



I think because the character from Knut Hamsun's "Sult" is so rare also helps this 10/10.. Per Oscarsson is also one hell of an actor who could be so convincing in Danish or English (Peckinpah's "Wine Noon")

The Machinist is the first that comes to mind. Not sure if it meets all your criteria, but is definitely a character within himself.

Edited by Tapfret - December 25 2024 at 22:15

Hunger (Michael Fassbender as IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands)

The concept of a character firmly enmeshed with personal battles who stays trapped in unending cycles truly distinguishes it from other films. The narrative focuses entirely on inner conflicts since external elements play no role in this story. The tension in this scene receives its maximum expression from Per Oscarsson's skilled acting. A comparable motion picture in this spirit would be The Wrestler by Darren Aronofsky which presents a lone man thinking about his choices while he remains isolated.