The six-part drama Hungry follows seventeen-year-old Ronnie after she is admitted against her will to a child and adolescent psychiatric clinic. Eline Gehring directs a script by Zoe Magdalena, who also plays the central role. The series takes an intimate look at a young person initially unwilling to accept either treatment or the community around her.
Ronnie's mother brings her to the clinic. At first, Ronnie rejects therapy and the other patients. Gradually she forms friendships with Esta, who has depression; Gina, who has an eating disorder; and Nick, who has bipolar disorder. Saron Degineh, Daria Vivien Wolf and Alessandro Schuster play the three fellow patients. Those relationships help Ronnie confront her own illness and develop a desire to recover.
The series is strongest in its authentic treatment of mental illness. Magdalena brings credibility to Ronnie, and Gehring captures the emotional depth of the characters without keeping the audience at a clinical distance. Laura Hansen's close framing and restrained palette support that intimacy.
The clinic functions as a small world in which different illnesses and their effects on young people become visible. Hungry avoids presenting simple solutions. Recovery is difficult, uneven work, and realistic dialogue reflects the characters' internal struggles. The community around them matters without becoming a magical cure.
Hungry tackles a subject that is still often left unspoken. It offers no easy answers, but conveys the complexity of mental illness and the value of support on the path to recovery. Viewers drawn to thoughtful character dramas will find a clear recommendation here.