The reviews on this film seem to be pretty outstanding. I thought the subject matter was fascinating, but there wasn't really much to work with... it was done in the best possible way, focusing on the lives of those who jumped, trying to find motives/reasons, going over the impact of their loved ones. There was some haunting insight. But, overall, I think the movie was very simple in its execution -- lots of B-roll of the bridge and surrounding area, the main thrust being talking head interviews, and the MEAT of the film being a few roughly shot on-camera suicides... the latter is very contentious, if they shot it much better it would be verging on snuff but if they shot it any worse you would have no clue what was going on.
I think ultimately the documentary was handled as best as it could have been given the parameters of it being a full-length culled from a year of footage... however, I think this would have been better suited as a 45-60 minute PBS or premium cable documentary with way less B-roll and more concise interviews. The "menace" of the bridge was well established in the early part of the film, but by the end it was a pretty obvious device of trying to make the bridge seem like this ominous force that happens to be the single largest site of suicides in the world. I think ultimately, the material ran out of steam even though I would not say the documentary was less than "compelling." I'm torn on whether to give this a 5 or a 6, because 7 and up for me is something that thoroughly enjoyed, and I was merely impressed by this documentary's interesting subject and competent production. I think I'll give it a 6, because it was not mediocre... it just wasn't great.
I think ultimately the documentary was handled as best as it could have been given the parameters of it being a full-length culled from a year of footage... however, I think this would have been better suited as a 45-60 minute PBS or premium cable documentary with way less B-roll and more concise interviews. The "menace" of the bridge was well established in the early part of the film, but by the end it was a pretty obvious device of trying to make the bridge seem like this ominous force that happens to be the single largest site of suicides in the world. I think ultimately, the material ran out of steam even though I would not say the documentary was less than "compelling." I'm torn on whether to give this a 5 or a 6, because 7 and up for me is something that thoroughly enjoyed, and I was merely impressed by this documentary's interesting subject and competent production. I think I'll give it a 6, because it was not mediocre... it just wasn't great.