Sympathy is felt for McGregor's character as he seems to unmorally punished for doing something as simple as eating food, whilst there doesn't seem to be a motive, or anyone seen harming him as he does it. It invokes the feeling that he may be getting punished by a higher power, perhaps God - something the filmmaker may relate to.
Sympathy is additionally felt for McGregor's character because he of the very graphic use of the fishhook around his mouth along with the low angle close up that shows more vividly.
