The Bridge

Suicide is a serious issue and a legitimate public concern. While many criticize Steel for making what they think is a "snuff" film I appreciate the fact that someone is willing to bring light to an issue most keep hidden away.

I was worried I was going to be in for some shameless exploitation, but instead it remains remarkably sensitive towards its subjects, mental illness, and the act itself. A word of warning to those with depression or other mental illness: You will find no hope here. If you think you might relate to these people, please do yourself a favor and skip this one.

Oof. This was intense, especially the ending. A really sad, but really important documentary. This one's going to stick with me for a while.

There is a danger here of romanticizing suicide. I don't think there's any intent to romanticize it, but the risk is there and it raises questions about the wisdom of this project. That aside, however, it is a very moving documentary. And not just because it's sad, but it's also surprisingly life-affirming, emphasizing the value of life to yourself and those who care for you and understand you. The bridge itself is also such a photogenic structure that it lends the film a great deal of beauty.

In interviewing the family and friends of some of the 24 who jumped in 2004, discovering what made them do it and why they chose this location, Steel keeps a huge and far-reaching subject simple. And it works. The production has a mesmerising atmosphere, and while the interviews don't blow you away, the family and friends speak openly and frankly about the collection of (inevitably) depressed people they have lost. Footage of some keeps it real. For what The Bridge is, it's done very well.

The premise sounds intriguing, but once you get past the initial shock of actually seeing someone jump off the bridge, it's just a bunch of really boring people talking about the really boring people who killed themselves. Pass.

The Bridge's subject matter is incredibly fascinating; some will even say that the filmmaker is taking advantage of that, considering it is about people's lives. However, my qualms are not with the topic, but with the work itself. The entire composition is just so poor. Sad story about Person A, sad story about Person B, footage of the bridge set to sad music, repeat. This was a visual eulogy, not a film.

Brilliant docu on a very difficult subject. The director makes it so much more powerful with all these clips of people jumping the bridge. Never once did it feel speculative in any way, just sad.

Drawn to what sounded like an attempt to contextualize suicide with a famous landmark, this pseudo-documentary achieves nothing of the sort. Instead, it's like a bunch of postcard shots with a bit of snuff. The interviews are pointless - and invasive considering how they got them - revealing no catharsis on suicide. Yes, they were sad, tragic people, but why jump? And why there? etc. And why bother making this when it has no relevant discussion? Go film a bunch of funerals next time instead.

The problem with The Bridge is that movie constantly sits on establishing shots of the bridge which are initially great mood setters end up being repetitive and simply take away from the focus of the documentary: those who decide to jump off the bridge. The interviews are incredibly interesting and unsettling and I wouldn't mind the shots of the bridge if there had been some informative interviews going on in the background. As it stands there weren't and the documentary lingers.

I gave up on this halfway through. It's so muddled, messy, and besides the jumping scenes, it's an extremely flat, boring, generic documentary about people with sad lives.

Just saw this last week and I liked it quite a bit. Why is this listed under "horror", though? Really beautiful cinematography and legitimately compelling. The movie-long saga of Gene is perhaps the most gut-wrenching. Powerful.

An extremely personal and organic look at suicide. The footage is unique and surprisingly suspenseful. Definitely forces you to rethink your attitudes towards the act.

Not quite sure about this one. The money shot at the end ruined it a bit.

This is such a niche documentary, a subject within a subject. It actually works on some parts, but it comes off a little to try hard in others. You could do worse if you're looking for a fairly grim doc.

Well put together, but it didn't cover what I found most interesting - what the crew must have gone through filming the suicides.

An intriguing topic, but the film's pedestrian execution just drags it down.

The bridge is over, the bridge is over.

You leave The Bridge with a new appreciation for your (relative) mental stability and a vow to make the most of your brief, ephemeral life.

I don't think I could ever kill myself now because I couldn't do it to my mother.

"Certainly there's no denying the effectiveness of some of the material here, but The Bridge never earns its parallel to Brueghel's "Landscape with the Fall of Icarus."" - Keith Uhlich

I mean, even documentaries should have some kind of dramatic arc. The Bridge was just sad sad sad sad sad sad over. It kind of feels like you're being needlessly beaten after a while. The most interesting part was the interview with the one guy who survived, just because it was a change of pace. Eric Steel had this great idea to film the bridge and got this amazing, startling footage, which people should see. But I didn't come away having gained any insight. Steel didn't offer any either.

Yes, do watch it !

As someone who has dealt with depression in one way or another, I found this movie to be extremely interesting, but I can see how it would be infuriating or boring to someone else. In a technical sense, it could have been better, but it's not that bad either.

Not as interesting as it should be, the people are just all pretty lame. Also, showing 50 shots of the bridge throughout the movie is annoying.

This movie is disappointing because it fails to deliver any greater truth about its subject. Yes, people kill themselves, and many choose to do it by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge. But why? That's what I want to know. What's the attraction of this place? Perhaps if this movie had attempted to explore this strange magnetism in greater detail, it would have elevated itself to a higher level.

Powerful and memorable. Impressive piece of filmmaking.

truly a bridge of sorrows..............

It's a good documentary, but lacks a bit more of introspection.

An interesting subject, but completely unengaging. There are some great shots, but most of them don't really amount to anything and it becomes a bit redundant. The interviewees are boring, and in the end it doesn't seem this packed any sort of substantial insight.

Moving documentary about the stories behind some of the people who decided to end their lives by jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge. Some harrowing footage, but not particularly gratuitous. An interesting film

What a downer of a movie -- just interview after interview of people talking about friends at the "end of their ropes."

Unforgettable documentary. Very interesting. I recommend watching.

i didn't know this was such a common event. shocking to say at least.