The Bridge

Kim and I watched a documentary called The Bridge tonight about people who decide to commit suicide by jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. We’d seen a special on TV (20/20 or Dateline) a while back about the filming of this movie and why it was considered by many to be controversial. Although it was tough to watch in parts, it wasn’t as depressing as it may sound.

The director, Eric Steele, interviews the friends and family members of many of the people who decided to jump, including one young man who miraculously lived to explain his desire to die. As this boy jumped, he decided in midair that he wanted to live so he twists and contorts his body so that he’d hit the water feet first.

But the most dramatic footage comes from the multiple cameras Steele placed around the bridge that captured many of the jumpers in shots ranging from close ups to shots of distant shots where the sound of the splash tell us what just happened. A years worth of footage captured 23 people who jumped to their death.  This footage is so captivating and nerve wracking because, as it’s shown, you have no idea who is going to jump over the rail at any moment. The people come from all walks of life and it’s impossible to determine who the next victim is merely by what they are wearing or how they are carrying themselves.

We learn that the Golden Gate Bridge is the most popular suicide destination in the world with over 1300 confirmed deaths since it opened in 1937.

I visited the bridge with my parents when I was 12 years old. I recall sitting on a bus as we drove over the gigantic, golden span. The tour guide explained to us that only a handful of people had survived the jump. At the time I assumed people jumped for the thrill. It was chilling as a 12 year old to hear that and I felt a similar chill watching this movie tonight. It’s eerie. It’s disturbing. It’s honest. It’s not something I’ll soon forget.