Saturday, October 11th, 2008

Screen Scene: "The Bridge"

"The Bridge"

Director Eric Steel

First Stripe Productions

(Out of 5)

Every year, hoards of visitors flock to the Golden Gate Bridge, eager to take in the sights of the San Francisco bay – rocky cliffs, foggy waters, and a stunning city skyline, only the click of a lens away.

But unlike the tourists, director and producer Eric Steel sets out to record a different sight in his simple yet profound documentary “The Bridge” – dozens of men and women leaping to their deaths at the most popular suicide location in the world.

Inspired after watching the World Trade Center collapse from his own window, Steel stationed a camera crew around the bridge 24 hours a day for a year to capture the disturbing footage.

He then conducted interviews with family and friends of the jumpers, compiling over 100 hours of footage to tell their stories of mental illness, depression and loneliness. While from different backgrounds, the victims share a common thread in their tragic deaths.

Lisa, who had been plagued by schizophrenia for years, requiring various states of assisted living and medical care. Following her death, while her sister and mother solemnly accepted that she was in a “better place,” her brother maintains that it was some sort of accident.

Another story line follows Gene, who was driven to suicide out of loneliness and unemployment. His friend tragically recounts that on the day of his death, he was to be offered a job.

Steel also includes the intriguing story of a young man who survived a jump, an extreme rarity in the bridge’s history.

Interviewed family members and friends often seem almost too calm and complacent. One is seen laughing, another describes the feeling of relief. Most simply accept that dying at the hands of the bridge is simply the last chapter of a loved one’s life.

However, the film still succeeds in telling its touching narratives, and refreshingly leaves political and moral discussion at the door. It does not address the suicide prevention barrier that has come up before the city counsel numerous times over the decades, nor does it preach a strong message about the consequences of suicide.

Screensaver-worthy shots of the bridge and piano music separate the stories as if it were a special on the Travel channel. And the reporting and discussion are as provoking as an average nightly newscast.

However, the footage of bodies falling from the bridge speaks for itself. The film is disturbing and memorable, successfully shedding light on the darker side of this historic landmark.