Fragment – Movie Review | Fantasia (4/5)

FRAGMENT is a South Korean Thriller Drama (org. title: Pa-pyeon) with a heartbreaking story about guilt and blame. It deals with a murder case by looking at all those affected. Screened at Fantasia 2025. Read our full Fragment movie review here!

FRAGMENT is a Thriller Drama from South Korea (org. title: Pa-pyeon) currently screening at Fantasia 2025. The movie is so full of pain and heartbreak that you may want to skip it if you’re already dealing with grief or any hint of depression yourself.

Obviously, the movie evolves in ways both good and bad, but it is very brutal to watch things escalate for all our main characters. We’re following the son of a killer and the son of the murder victims. Both are miserable, but deal with their circumstance in very different ways.

Continue reading our Fragment movie review below.

A monopoly on being the victim

When someone is murdered, the focus is far too often primarily on the killer. Sure, the victims are mentioned, but the focus tends to be on why and how the killer could do such a terrible thing. It becomes a study of that person and an attempt to understand their motives.

That’s why I only really appreciate true crime documentaries when friends and family of the victims are involved. I need the focus to be on the victims. We must acknowledge the ripple effect. Not least the pain caused by such a heinous crime.

With Fragment, it goes a step further and also focuses on another element: The relatives of the killer, who are very quickly put in a box with the killer due to being related.

In the case of this story, we’re dealing with a 15-year-old boy and his younger sister, whom he fights to protect. Both from the truth of what their father did and to keep her fed, safe, and happy.

So while the son of the murder victims is wearing his victimhood as a shield against the world – including those who want to be there for him – the kids of the killer have also taken on the blame of their father. But are they not victims as well?!

Kids can be so cruel – as can adults!

Unfortunately, I don’t have to tell you, dear reader, that kids can be extremely cruel. Not all kids, but just one bully, is enough to make life unbearable. So imagine what it’s like when this bully discovers that your dad is the killer, the school has been talking about forever?!

Of course, the landlord of their apartment isn’t much better. She is constantly badgering them, and while it is understandable that she needs the money she is owed, there is little sympathy for these kids.

Fortunately, as with most South Korean productions, we also see kids helping out and adults going the extra mile to help someone in need. It’s never black or white, but the shades of gray do range from very dark to quite light. And in that latter category, there may be some hope left.

As the two main characters, we first have Jun-gang (Oh Ja-hun), who is the son of the killer and takes care of his little sister. Oh Ja-hun is amazing and delivers a nuanced and heartbreaking portrayal of a kid forced to grow up, who takes the burden of the world on his shoulders.

Meanwhile, Gi-su (Moon Seong-hyun) is the son of the victims and now lives by himself after his parents were brutally killed. While Moon Seong-hyun has less screentime, he will make an impact on you. In fact, his character’s situation is so depressing that I’m glad we didn’t see him more.

Fragment is screening at Fantasia 2025

This is the feature film debut of writer-director Kim Sung-yoon, who previously worked as an Assistant Director on movies like The Vanished and Bring Me Home. With this one as his debut, he is off to an extremely impressive beginning.

Fragment (org. title: Pa-pyeon) features a profound and heartbreaking story that focuses on the often forgotten victims of any crime, but especially murder. The children of the victims or perpetrators. They are innocent, but too many people don’t see it that way.

I’m happy to say that Fragment has enjoyed impressive success at the Busan International Film Festival, where it won three awards. Fantasia 2025 chose this movie to premiere on their first day, and it absolutely deserves that kind of spotlight.

Fragment was screened and reviewed as part of our Fantasia 2025 coverage.

Details

Director: Kim Sung-yoon
Writer: Kim Sung-yoon
Cast: Kim Gyu-na, Oh Ja-jun, Moon Seong-hyun