The Bridge

[Patrick]

I wasn't sure whether to put this in entertainment or extended discussion... I think it mostly suits the latter. This is the trailer to a film called 'The Bridge'. Some sensitive people may find it disturbing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8muNsj1oUpY To elaborate, this is a movie made up of footage of people committing suicide off the Golden Gate Bridge. The film crew set up cameras to watch the bridge for an entire year, and captured 24 jumpers on film, all died. The crew had previously agreed to try and prevent any jumpers they saw, and had bridge officials on speed dial on their phones. However, all the suicides took place with too little warning. The film is also made up of interviews with the bereaved families. The purpose of the film, according to the director Eric Steel, is to dissuade people with suicidal thoughts. I personally think it looks like a very moving film. However, the controversy is that suicide should not be 'glorified' on film, that these people should not be filmed in such an intrusive way, and that it is basically wrong to film suicide. What's your take on it? P.S. I apologize if a similar thread has already been made; I'm not sure when this movie came out.

[Hypnosis06]

I just wanna know when this movie came out... I never heard anything about it. It looks really good though, I would definetely want to see it.

[Burns]

huh, I never knew so many people committed suicide off that bridge. I wikied it and indeed there is an entire section devoted to the Golden Gate Bridge and suicide. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_...ridge#Suicides I still don't know if I'd want to see that movie though. It weirds me out to watch people on film get hurt (or die) - I can't even watch those shows where people are doing stupid things and get seriously injured. It makes my skin crawl.

[Oneironaut Zero]

I saw a news story, not long ago, that was talking about all of the suicides off of the G.G. Bridge. They were showing a lot of footage of people that crossed the railings to jump off (though I don't remember them showing the actual plunges). I had no idea there were so many suicides from that bridge, before I saw that story. That said, I don't think the idea of the documentary is offensive. I think suicide is an unfortunate reality and I really don't have any problem with any part of reality being videotaped, simply for journalistic reasons. If the taping is only for a sadistic glorification of the experience (in which I haven't seen many suicides taped for such a reason) then I'd have a problem with it, but simply to note and/or discuss the incident(s), I don't find it morally wrong to document it. Doesn't mean I'd enjoy watching those types of things but, given the format (if it's done maturely, and for a legitimate purpose), it could be interesting.

[Howie]

Is it a cry for help? Why there? Maybe hoping someone will talk them down? Maybe going out in style. There is no good way to look at it. I am not ashamed to admit that I have had times in my life I felt that way. It is the emptiness feeling one could imagine. The depth of your soul feels empty. I wish that on no one. It is against the law.

[Roller]

From what I saw of the trailer, the movie looks like it has been done quite respectably and beautifully... I can't see how anyone would take offence to it. The only drawback is that I've heard a lot of people say that depicting suicide on tv or how it is achieved increases the suicide rate slightly. I'm not sure where to read that research, but it'd be interesting. It's not like people are being forced to watch the movie, either.

[Kaniaz]

Yeah, I've heard about this before. The fact they're making a movie is slightly off (well, a movie documentary I suppose?) but hey.

[blade5x]

From what I saw of the trailer, the movie looks like it has been done quite respectably and beautifully... I can't see how anyone would take offence to it. The only drawback is that I've heard a lot of people say that depicting suicide on tv or how it is achieved increases the suicide rate slightly. I'm not sure where to read that research, but it'd be interesting. It's not like people are being forced to watch the movie, either. [/b] I wouldn't be surprised if the amount of suicides on the Golden Gate goes up after this film gets released. I'm probably going to watch it, if not on my own, I'll be forced to go watch it with some other people heh.

[Wolffe]

I wouldn't be surprised if the amount of suicides on the Golden Gate goes up after this film gets released. [/b] Definitely. I have avoided watching anything die on film for any purpose all my life, and I intend to keep it that way. Even animal documentaries showing an animal's last moments seems sick to me, so the idea of making a film documentary of it seems sadistic to me. If it were only to be used in some sort of therapy situation, I could find it believable that it were purely to help others, but if it's gonna be released mainstream, the fact is it's gonna do more harm than good; most of the audiences being curiousity at watching a real person end their life out of despair, the rest just getting bad ideas, even if they are dressing it up as a 'helpful repellent' or something.

[nina]

Hmmm...after watching the trailer...I'm sort of undecided. I'd have to see the movie to have any sort of opinion about it. But just from the trailer...the feel I get from it sort of worries me as to the direction the movie might go. And the effect it might have on people.

[Indecent Exposure]

I dont want to see it I dont see anything morally wrong about it but, death is not something I wish to veiw, Death is saddedning I can watch a film designed to be sad and enjoy it because I know tis fictional this is true Out of all the emotions there are sadness is certainly one the elast enjoyable this film i suppose would provide me with that nope thank you Imran

[Neruo]

Is it a cry for help? Why there? Maybe hoping someone will talk them down? Maybe going out in style. There is no good way to look at it. [/b] I would do it, would I ever do it, to go out in style. Actually I wouldn't jump of the G.G., but skydive with no shute and land on Dr. Phil. That's style. I am not ashamed to admit that I have had times in my life I felt that way. It is the emptiness feeling one could imagine. The depth of your soul feels empty. I wish that on no one.[/b] Sucks. Major. Balls. If you feel like that again, just talk to people, anyone, people care. : ) By the way, no animal but the homo sapiens ever kills itself. Kind of weird how or society makes us do thing nature never would. Like fighting for ideals, you don't see lions dieing for freedom or justice. It is against the law. [/b] lol. Cop: "If you try to commit suicide, we will shoot you!" That would be ironically.

[nina]

lol. Cop: "If you try to commit suicide, we will shoot you!" That would be ironically. [/b] It's actually a real phenomenon. Suicide by cop. I've heard alot of people do this...because they don't want to actually kill themselves, so they wave their gun at a cop or group of cops and get taken down. That sucks for the cop...

[Indecent Exposure]

Yeh i hate it wen people do that commiting suicide wheere u harm someone elses life too there was this guy, who wanted to commit suicide, so he went and parked his car on the railway tracks and waited. then he died and so did practically everyone on the train it was on the news not long a go Imran

[Lord Toaster]

Depression affects more people than ever nowadays. "19 million people succumb to clinical depression each year. In addition, figures suggest that up to 10% of women and 3-5% of men worldwide may be suffering from clinical depression at any given time." More than 50 % of all people are considering suicide at some time during their life. <<I find that statistic incredible. I know I haven&#39;t ever considered suicide. Please include in you&#39;re post whether you have or not - I can&#39;t vouch for the truth of the above statistic.

[Neruo]

It's actually a real phenomenon. Suicide by cop. I've heard alot of people do this...because they don't want to actually kill themselves, so they wave their gun at a cop or group of cops and get taken down. That sucks for the cop... [/b] Yeah. But I wouldn't want to drive a train that passes the crazy-people asylum every day too... By the way, those people are pretty silly. A bullet to the kneecap just hurts, A LOT.