The story of “Taipei Suicide Story” is fairly straightforward.
In a suicide hotel, a receptionist named Zhi-Hao (Tender Huang) works all by himself, day and night. And every day, he encounters hopeless people checking in the place, as well as workers in protective suits transporting corpses out of the rooms.
One of the workers informed him one day that a girl staying in room 602 violated their company policy for staying more than a day. When the receptionist confronts Jun-Ting (Vivian Sung), the girl in the room, she tells him that she, too, intends to die like others. But staying at the hotel makes her feel less lonely. Now she is conflicted if she even wants to die. Zhi-Hao responds, "If you can't kill yourself tonight, then please leave tomorrow morning. Or I'll call the police."
Later that day, the two ran into each other again. Zhi-Hao apologized for his harshness, but Jun-Ting said it was fine. At that point, it is clear that the two are starting to form a fleeting bond. However, as they spend the rest of the day together, the gravity of Jun-Ting’s decision becomes heavier and heavier.
The film “Taipei Suicide Story” is now available in Mubi Philippines. After winning the Slamdance 2021 Narrative Grand Jury Prize, it is one of the films I am most excited to see. And it does not disappoint.
The premise of the film may sound indecent, but the execution is brimming with compassion and sensitivity. KEFF patiently tells his story. He does not disregard the impact of depression on people that are experiencing it or use their narrative to be "relevant". Instead, he approaches it with caution. Rather than force-feeding the plot to the audience, the emphasis is on allowing them to feel and comprehend the issues at hand.
“Taipei Suicide Story” finds director KEFF in near-omnipotent form. He was able to create a world of deep sadness in such a short amount of time. A place where death is somewhat venial. And even though many lives have ended in the place, the silence is peaceful and serene.
Of course, the focus is on the two lost and lonely souls: Zhi-Hao and Jun-Ting. Two unusual characters who both discover that connecting with others can be therapeutic or a way of letting go and a bridge to appreciate life. Their conversation is grounded and meaningful. Though, indeed, kind gestures and beautiful words are not enough to change a person. But those little things can mean a lot to anybody.
Suicidal people are usually portrayed in films as a cautionary tale, a tragedy waiting to happen. However, “Taipei Suicide Story” does not see it that way. The story removes any shame and stigma associated with suicide. It contributes to the normalization of the experience of having mental health issues and suicidal thoughts. The film demonstrates so much human sensibility on the subject that you can tell it genuinely cares about the people who go through it.
Lastly, Vivian Sung and Tender Huang were excellent as their respective characters. Without these two fantastic actors, KEFF's direction would be meaningless. Kudos to such great performances.
If there is one film that everyone should watch right away, it is "Taipei Suicide Story." It's filled with humanity and emotion. It will make you think, but more importantly, it will help you change your perspective about suicide and depression. This KEFF film will surely linger in your mind for a long time.
5/5
"Taipei Suicide Story" is available on Mubi.
Lives are worth continuing. If you need someone to talk to, feel free to contact these numbers:
0917-558-4673 (Globe)
0918-873-4673 (Smart)
02-88044673 (PLDT)
2919 (toll-free for Globe and TM)
0917-558-4673 (Globe)
0918-873-4673 (Smart)
02-88044673 (PLDT)
2919 (toll-free for Globe and TM)