Portland Public Library

The bridge, IFC presents an Easy There Tiger production ; produced and directed by Eric Steel ; executive producer, Alison Palmer Bourke, Evan Shapiro

eng

videorecording

MPAA Rating: Rated R for disturbing content involving suicide, and for some language

The bridge

95219242

Originally produced as an American documentary in 2005

IFC presents an Easy There Tiger production ; produced and directed by Eric Steel ; executive producer, Alison Palmer Bourke, Evan Shapiro

94

"In 2004, 24 people jumped to their deaths from the Golden Gate Bridge. More people have chosen to end their lives at the Golden Gate Bridge than anywhere else in the world."--End titles. What makes the suicides at the bridge so unusual is that they take place in broad daylight, in front of people in a busy place - unlike most suicides, which are enacted in extreme privacy. Filmmaker Eric Steel and his crew spent 2004 filming the bridge during daylight hours from two locations, grappling with the ethical question of when to alert authorities, and their responsibilities as observers. The film features interviews with the families and friends of some of the victims that year, as well as one person who changed his mind. Offering a glimpse into one of the darkest, most impenetrable corners of the human mind, the film also interrogates society's ability to blithely ignore the grim realities of depression, mental illness, and drug abuse that underly so many suicides. These are only some of the factors discussed by the film, common to the twenty four people who died at the Golden Gate Bridge in 2004, who are now linked together forever by a 4 second fall in an otherwise magically, mysteriously beautiful place

Common occurrence -- Gene -- Lisa -- Family recounts -- Wally & Mary Manikow -- Photographer's perspective -- Kevin Hines: A survivor's struggle -- Process of deciding -- David, Ruby and Jim -- False romanticism -- Hurt left behind -- End credits

live action