"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.