A Hunger Artist

A Hunger Artist Synopsis

During these past years David Blaine gained enormous publicity through his spectacular stunts. In 1999 he was buried alive in a coffin of glass for seven days. In the year 2000 he was frozen in a block of ice for almost 62 hours. In 2002 he stood for 35 hours on a 105 feet tall pillar. For his most recent action 'Above The Below' in fall 2003 David Blaine starved himself for 44 days, hanging on a Plexiglas box on a crane near Tower Bridge in London.

According to the British Press, David Blaine is said to have received between 600,000 and 1,2 million GBP for the 44 days live broadcasting by 'Channel 4' and 'Sky One'. 'Channel 4' presented 'Above The Below' on their homepage under the rubric: Entertainment. One title used by 'The Guardian' was 'Illusions of grandeur'. For the public he is a showman, an artist or even a redeemer like Jesus. On his release David Blaine said himself: 'I have learned more in that little box than I have in years. I've learned how important it is to have a sense of humor and to laugh at everything because nothing makes any sense anyway.'

The documentary about David Blaine's last action 'Above The Below' deals with the questions: What is so fascinating about David Blaine? What are his motives? Does he give an answer to the longing of people for meaning and spirituality? Is David Blaine a modern figure of salvation like Jesus? People who fast are fascinating and draw the attention of other people, since the very beginning of our history. Does David Blaine stand in that tradition? Why did 'Above The Below' become such a big event for the masses and the media?