Customer Review(s)
Customer Rating: 
Summary: An Important Film About Understanding More Perspectives About Suicide, Depression, and Mental Illnesses
Comment: Usually, when I give a film 5 out of 5 stars, it is because I not only think highly of the film, but I also want more people to see it.
In this case, I'm not necessarily encouraging more people to see this film. But at the same time, this is an exceptionally informative film that was created with a great deal of care, patience, and sensitivity.
This is a multiple viewpoint film with dialogues from people closely involved with friends or relatives who killed themselves by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge. The discussions are informed, but not necessarily expert. The opinions are earnest and well-meaning, but not necessarily good advice. But observing and questioning the narratives could be a valuable exercise for some who have ever struggled with the related issues.
I want to personally thank all the filmmakers involved who worked so hard to create this film.
Customer Rating: Summary: An education.....hopefully you can give someone hope and help!
Comment: When I decided to view this documentary, I was in belief that only a portion of the story would be about the suicides. I had believed that you would see the majestic, technical and mechanical elements of the San Francisco bridge. It is not about that, it is all about the use of the bridge as a tool to end your life. You will see and feel the desperation and anguish that leads someone to take advantage of the bridge - to end their life here, and to use this bridge as the means just because it is there!
Come to grips with the end
This lengthy 2004 documentary is a study of the people who come to grips that this is the method to accomplish that. Pay close attention to the stories of family and friends of the dead. You may get confused about the people the interviewees speak of. Heartbreaking stories of family and friends interweave with footage of people on the bridge.
Graphic
In the yearlong study, photographers captured the people on the bridge. You will see actual jumps! Some footage is plentiful, while other jumps are not as graphic. And, that is one of the most painful things to watch, the leap from that bridge, the leap that is the end. You will hear how a young man changed his mind and lived to tell about it.
Not exploitive
Some might feel that this graphic view of suicide jumps is exploitive, but the film allows the viewer to FEEL for the person jumping. The healthy minded person can't imagine climbing that rail knowing the horrendous outcome. But to the mentally ill or depressed person, it comes without much thought. It is an educational insight for anyone who may recognize the signs of desperation.
Special Features
The extra feature here is the role photographers play in recording daily the people, watching out for the loner and their telltale signs. You will see some people get pulled away, and at times you can only believe they wanted to be stopped.
Fortunately, I have not had an experience with someone who attempted or mastered suicide. This is an education, read the signs, give someone hope......Rizzo
Customer Rating: Summary: Simply Poignant
Comment: I had never heard of this film until I caught it on tv. I was at once spellbound. The subject is people who jump from the Golden Gate Bridge. It is a very poignant documentary about people who commit suicide off this grand structure and the effect their deaths have on the ones left behind. Be forewarned. This film documents 23 of the known 24 suicides in year 2004. Some one called this a snuff film and I admit it has the shocking effect of a snuff film but I am convinced beyond a doubt that it was not Eric Steel's intention to create a snuff film when he made this movie. With camera's strategically placed, Eric and his staff documented suicides in progress. Some successful, some rescued. His staff often intervened to try and rescue the jumpers before they jumped.
It is a disturbing film and it is also heart wrenching. There are in depth interviews with some of the friends and family left behind. Those left behind are always so stunned. Even if they had an inkling of the suicide's intention, they are always shocked, stunned, full of guilt. A co-worker of mine committed suicide in 2000 and I remember feeling all those emotions. Those emotions rocked me to the core and her suicide haunted me for years. I was left wondering, why didn't she say something? She was always smiling! Then last year my ex-husband's favorite brother committed suicide and again I felt those over-powering emotions of shock and surprise.
Seeing this movie literally horrified me that people can be so severely depressed and insomnia-ridden that they choose to die rather than live. It's like they don't realize that suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.
I cannot understand why this bridge does not have a suicide barrier. Yes the politician's arguments may seem valid, but when people are easily climbing over a bridge's 4 foot barrier and jumping to their deaths, it's obvious something HAS to be done.
I would recommend this movie if for it's educational purpose alone. No one can watch this documentary and not be moved.
