“I’m a Cyborg, But That’s OK” is a 2006 South Korean film directed by Park Chan-wook. The film tells the story of Young-goon, a young woman who believes she is a cyborg and is admitted to a psychiatric hospital.
The film is characterised by its surreal and imaginative elements. The film’s mad ideas are primarily found in the imagination of the main character. Young-goon is convinced that she is a cyborg and has extraordinary abilities. She believes that she can recharge energy by picking up batteries and puts on a toothpick to conduct electricity. These absurd ideas serve as an expression of her mental disorder.
A highlight of the film is the depiction of the psychiatric hospital itself. The clinic is portrayed as a colourful and fairytale world where the patients live with their individual delusions. The clinic environment becomes the setting for the patients’ various absurd and imaginative ideas.
“I’m a Cyborg, But That’s OK” is a captivating film that offers a mix of comedy, romance and fantasy. It stands out for its unique visual design and creative approach to the themes of mental illness and identity. The film’s zany ideas reflect the subtle line between reality and fantasy, inviting the viewer to look at the world through the eyes of the main character.
