THE BRIDGE – 2006 – 94 minutes – Produced and Directed by Eric Steel – Koch Lorber Films. IFC . Rated “R” Suicide is a difficult subject to deal with. Some might call it morbid. The documentary, The Bridge begins with panoramic views of the Golden Gate Bridge, the bay, recreational activities, boats, rowers, people walking across the bridge, standing by the rail, talking on cell phones. A late middle-aged man, dressed casually, wearing running shoes, suddenly climbs on to the railing, stands there for a few moments and then jumps off the bridge.
The goal of a documentary film is to explore actuality, that which is known as reality, with as little interference as possible. The expectation is that the process will reveal some truth about that subject. Give some new insight into a problem or a way to deal with an issue that faces humanity. The Bridge fulfills this requirement in a way that is sensitive to the delicate nature of the subject. However, it is not a film for children.
For 365 days the crew of the documentary film The Bridge, kept their cameras pointed at the Golden Gate Bridge during the daylight hours. Their goal was to observe and record the suicides and the suicide attempts that constantly occur. In 2004, twenty-four people leapt to their deaths from the Golden Gate Bridge.
At first it’s hard to understand what motivated Eric Steel to undertake this project. He says that he read an article, entitled, “Jumpers” that inspired him to move from New York to San Francisco to make this film. Using Cameras with telephoto lenses he set up to cover the bridge from several viewpoints. Crewmembers had cell phones with speed dialing set to reach the bridge patrol in case a jumper was spotted. But many of these incidents happened very quickly. A number of scenes show people being talked or pulled back from the brink. An interesting problem for the filmmakers was how to determine who might be a potential jumper among the hundreds of tourists and others crossing the bridge.
This documentary goes beyond recording people jumping from the bridge. It examines events leading up to the act itself. It appears that many individuals have contemplated and planned committing suicide before actually attempting it. Teen suicide, and suicide in general is a constant problem in all cultures. Interviews with friends and family of suicides are intercut with a great deal of footage of the area around the bridge. The bridge is viewed, in the background, from many different points-of-view where life proceeds in a normal, everyday fashion.
One survivor is interviewed about his experience. His father is also interviewed. The thought process of the young man and how he came to jump reveal much about what led him to this desperate act. He talks about how he felt immediately after jumping and the moments it took to hit the water. He relates how immediately after jumping he discovered he did not want to die.
As emotionally difficult and voyeuristic as it may feel to watch a number of people actually jump from the bridge, the documentary brings to light some of the issues and clues as to what brings humans to the point of taking their own lives. It also looks at the impact on family and friends of someone taking their own life. The editing of shots of the bridge with both potential jumpers and jumpers, scenes of the area and interview footage, tells a story that is tragic, informative and emotional. The filmmakers did not dramatize or sensationalize the subject in anyway. What emerges is a thoughtful exploration of a human condition that concerns everyone.
JRMartin
TRAILER THE BRIDGE
Tags: Documentary Film Review, SUICIDE, THE BRIDGE
