“Winner of the 2008 Camera d’Or at Cannes, Turner Prize-winning artist Steve McQueen‘s first foray into feature film is a powerful drama focusing on the infamous six-week hunger strike that IRA prisoners, led by Bobby Sands in the early ‘80s used as a way of publicizing their demands to be recognized as political prisoners. Focusing on a subject ripe for “Play of the Day“ treatment, McQueen eschews the obvious for a carefully considered, and wonderfully photographed and acted, inquiry into belief and sacrifice. Indeed, one critic has likened the film to an Irish “Passion Play,” with German actor Michael Fassbender as Sands, essentially essaying the role of Jesus. McQueen exhibits complete control over the visual aspects of the film, framing Sands’ encounters with interrogators and priests in a way that is both intelligent and unlike anything we have seen before. In so doing, he has managed a rare thing – a genuine work of cinematic art from an artist not known as a feature film maker.” -PSIFF 2009