KristiB
06-13-2007, 06:18 AM
I heard about it on NPR and rented it out of curiosity. It's more sad than morbid but still a bit disturbing.
It's a documentary about people who committ suicide by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge.
Apparently it happens a lot because the director filmed people taking the plunge(yes they show the splash). He then interviewed witnesses and survivors of the people. The survivors talk about the aftermath and the hurt they felt and regret they didn't do more to prevent it.
He also interviewed one guy who survived (his life was ultimately saved by a seal who he thinks was God).
A lot of the suicides had mental illnesses. The doc gave insight to the torture of mental illness and what frame of mind people are in when they jump.
He also interviewed people who were talked off or who changed their minds about what they were thinking.
I was struck by how all the jumpers have the same body language before they go over the rail. Most contemplated for a long time before going over the rail, then sat on the ledge and contemplated some more. A lot of them do it when there's a lot of people around too.
If you can handle it the subject matter I recommend it.
BTW: I also watched the "making of" bonus feature and every time the film makers saw someone they thought was going to jump they did call the bridge police. That was an interesting feature too and I recommend watching it.
It's a documentary about people who committ suicide by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge.
Apparently it happens a lot because the director filmed people taking the plunge(yes they show the splash). He then interviewed witnesses and survivors of the people. The survivors talk about the aftermath and the hurt they felt and regret they didn't do more to prevent it.
He also interviewed one guy who survived (his life was ultimately saved by a seal who he thinks was God).
A lot of the suicides had mental illnesses. The doc gave insight to the torture of mental illness and what frame of mind people are in when they jump.
He also interviewed people who were talked off or who changed their minds about what they were thinking.
I was struck by how all the jumpers have the same body language before they go over the rail. Most contemplated for a long time before going over the rail, then sat on the ledge and contemplated some more. A lot of them do it when there's a lot of people around too.
If you can handle it the subject matter I recommend it.
BTW: I also watched the "making of" bonus feature and every time the film makers saw someone they thought was going to jump they did call the bridge police. That was an interesting feature too and I recommend watching it.