
The Suicide Shop: dystopia, social critique, and the emergence of hope
Chapter from the book:
Göçerler,
H.
&
Karagöz,
C.
(eds.)
2025.
Utopia and Dystopia in Literary Studies.
Synopsis
Based on the eponymous novel by Jean Teulé, the animated film The Suicide Shop immerses viewers in a dark and melancholic universe, revealing an underlying ideology: the emergence of hope even in the most desperate moments. The film presents dystopian traits that encourage reflection on the human condition. Through an aesthetic, symbolic, and sociological approach, this article analyzes the dominant themes and the significance of the hidden messages. Situated at the intersection of dystopia and animated cinema, this study offers a reinterpretation to clarify its sociological implications. Using a heuristic analytical method with a thematic technique, we aim to closely examine how the dystopian elements in The Suicide Shop convey their messages and what critiques they propose. This analysis seeks to better account for the supposed flaws in society and the solutions suggested to address them. The originality of this article lies in the fact that a study focusing on dystopian elements in The Suicide Shop has not yet been conducted, allowing for a previously unexplored focus. Furthermore, it offers a perspective that could enrich future studies on dystopian animated films and contribute to francophone research on this underexamined work.