The Suicide Shop (French: Le Magasin des suicides) (2012)

Leave it to the French To give us this unique show, A dark comedy, Animated musical. Your death guaranteed, Yes, "Death or your money back!" Prepare to be awed. Blades, poison, ropes, swords, weights Oh, choices, choices. Cutting, drowning, gunshot wound, Hanging, poisoning, Seppuku, the most dignified Everything you need To depart from this gloomy Apocalyptic World where suicide rates soar. This family shop, Your final, perfect answer. Sales advice with glee. "Has your life been a failure?" Asks their bold slogan. "Let's make your death a success!" Oh so depressing Nothing to look forward to. Till Alan Tuvache, Laughing and smiling all day, To his parents' shame. With the neighborhood children, They turn those frowns upside down. Yes, he saves the day, Sister finds love and marriage, Their goods are now crêpes. His father the last to change, Ingrained in his ways. All it takes is cleverness, Musical numbers, Coordination with friends, And a trampoline. Not suitable for children, This is obvious. Something serious made light, Offensive to some, For suicide is not so Easily conquered. The animation and songs Need some improvement, Yet I thought the premise great, Characters charming, Song lyrics hilarious, Ending with artful credits.

Choka (long poem) was an epic storytelling form of poetry from the 1st to the 13th century, known as the Waka period. The choka is an unrhymed poem with the 5-7-5-7-5-7-5-7...7 syllable format (any odd number line length with alternating five and seven syllable lines that ends with an extra seven syllable line).

#Choka #PoemReview

Not to be confused with family viewing, The Suicide Shop is filled with politically incorrect humour throughout that goes against the expected, including death, depression and nudity. That said, it is done well with comedy and has a wonderful French soundtrack.

Those less accustomed to the wider range of animation in Europe may be left a bit baffled (or even insulted) by the narrative and design. There are many times that the references to suicide could be deemed offensive for those of a more sensitive nature. The animation is stylised and might not sit well with some. Equally there is something lacking in the ending that does not fit the tone instilled throughout.

The Suicide Shop is however unashamedly bold in its genre - it is funny, heartwarming and wonderfully grim at times. A great film to watch for something different and aesthetically entertaining. I do not know if there is an English dub, but I strongly recommend the french version.

Especially not the animation that might seem very low key to most (though that doesn't mean that a lot of work has been put behind the making of the movie). But the movie itself is really good. You think this is a one pun movie and it might feel like that to you. But you could also read a lot of social criticism into the movie.

Whatever you do, be vary that the movie is not politically correct in any way, shape or form. If that's not your cup of tea, then the humor will annoy you and make you hate the movie. Better stay away from it then. But if you are open to it, you will be delighted by some scenes. It still has some clichés it needs to serve and you will get where this is going, but it's still entertaining enough throughout