I feel having watched the film a real sense of sadness at the desperate plight of all the victims of suicide portrayed in this film. The film is very moving, terribly sad and depicts brilliantly the isolation and loneliness of all the poor souls who felt compelled to take their lives by jumping from the bridge Also, there is no doubt that parts of the film are very sensitively managed ie the frank and honest interviews with loved ones who lost a friend, sibling, the discussion with a survivor etc But the real problem I have with this film is accepting that the film makers could not have prevented many of the suicides that we see in the film. I understand that the film makers did successfully intervene and prevent the suicides of some people that year via contact with the patrol men/women on the bridge but could they have done more? I really didn't believe I was watching real suicides when I was watching the film, I kept telling myself they must be actors or staged scenarios but the very last scene where poor Gene takes his life is an image I think will always remain with me. It is so haunting to see him step back from the bridge while onlookers are caught in casual conversation.
When the movie was over, I was stunned and I waited for the actors credits to come up on screen when they didn't I realised the Jumps from the bridge must have been real suicides.
I am somewhat disturbed that the film makers also chose to show multiple people taking their lives in the course of the film, did we need to see this? Surely showing the image of a single person taking their life is shocking enough? I appreciate that the film makers wanted to approach the subject of suicide in an honest and frank manner and I can even understand (even though I don't agree with it) how showing a real life suicide might highlight the stark and brutal problem. But at what price? I believe that human life is sacred, and I believe the interviews with the family/friends alone in the aftermath of experiencing a suicide is enough in itself to inform us of the desperation and isolation of both those that took their own lives and those that were left behind. Why do we need to be shown the poor lost souls who in their weakest moment felt suicide was the only option? I feel it is undignified for those people to have their last desperate moments captured on film in a way where people can casually view their deaths. Will theses images really make an impact in the short or long terms or simply serve to desensitise us from what is a terrible tragedy? I just wonder if the film makers really wanted to stop the suicides of all the people in the film, if they did could they not have set up direct radio contact with the patrol men monitoring the bridge? Surely after witnessing the first jump they might have considered the most effective way to intervene. Was it that without the images of suicide, they felt their film lacked impact? I sincerely hope not because surely all the victims lives were worth much more than that!
When the movie was over, I was stunned and I waited for the actors credits to come up on screen when they didn't I realised the Jumps from the bridge must have been real suicides.
I am somewhat disturbed that the film makers also chose to show multiple people taking their lives in the course of the film, did we need to see this? Surely showing the image of a single person taking their life is shocking enough? I appreciate that the film makers wanted to approach the subject of suicide in an honest and frank manner and I can even understand (even though I don't agree with it) how showing a real life suicide might highlight the stark and brutal problem. But at what price? I believe that human life is sacred, and I believe the interviews with the family/friends alone in the aftermath of experiencing a suicide is enough in itself to inform us of the desperation and isolation of both those that took their own lives and those that were left behind. Why do we need to be shown the poor lost souls who in their weakest moment felt suicide was the only option? I feel it is undignified for those people to have their last desperate moments captured on film in a way where people can casually view their deaths. Will theses images really make an impact in the short or long terms or simply serve to desensitise us from what is a terrible tragedy? I just wonder if the film makers really wanted to stop the suicides of all the people in the film, if they did could they not have set up direct radio contact with the patrol men monitoring the bridge? Surely after witnessing the first jump they might have considered the most effective way to intervene. Was it that without the images of suicide, they felt their film lacked impact? I sincerely hope not because surely all the victims lives were worth much more than that!