Abstract
Tragicomedy refers to fictional works that blends the genres of tragedy and comedy into an entity that has its own character. It is a way to deal with tragedy as it is a difficult subject to be dealt with alone and the intensity can be cut by the distance set in by humor. Topics such as unemployment and racism are shown with an angle of humor but are seriously depicted in ?The Full Monty' by Peter Cattaneo and ?East is East' by Damien O'Donnell. The point that sets tragicomedy apart from comedy is that we don't laugh at the characters but with them. It is often hilarious, but there is something else underneath; it is a two level cinema. Tragicomedy delivers a message to the audience about the tragic society subject without making a heavy movie. It can have a cathartic effect and draw the audience attention to social issues without fatalism.
