Fantastic Parasuicides (2007 Film)

Fantastic Parasuicides (Korean: 판타스틱 자살소동) is a 2007 South Korean omnibus film. The project consists of three distinct short films, each directed by a different filmmaker, unified by the common thematic exploration of suicide.

Production and Release

The film was directed by Park Soo-young, Cho Chang-ho, and Kim Sung-ho, with Roh Hong-jin serving as assistant director. It was released in South Korea on November 8, 2007, with a total runtime of 92 minutes. The production budget was approximately US$ 320,000. The film received international attention when it was screened at the 37th International Film Festival Rotterdam in early 2008 as part of the Sturm und Drang section.

Segments

The film is structured into three segments:

• Hanging Tough (Directed by Park Soo-young): This segment follows a student named Gina who, after missing an exam, attempts to jump from her school rooftop. The narrative intertwines her experience with other individuals at the school who are also contemplating suicide, including a student with a homemade bomb, a school nurse, and a teacher suffering from delusions.
• Fly Away, Chicken! (Directed by Cho Chang-ho): A failed police officer travels to a secluded beach with the intention of taking his own life. His plans are interrupted when he witnesses a sexual assault, leading to a series of confrontations involving the perpetrators.
• Happy Birthday (Directed by Kim Sung-ho): A 70-year-old man, feeling neglected on his birthday, encounters a younger man who is fleeing from gangsters with a stolen bag of cash. The two form an unlikely connection as they attempt to escape their respective circumstances.