The Bridge

Over the weekend I took my teenage daughter to see the movie, "The Bridge", a documentary about suicides on the Golden Gate Bridge.

I found the movie to be both haunting and powerful. It makes your heart skip a beat when you see people climb over that railing, the only thing separating them from a plunge into the cold water far below. But even more chilling is the interviews with the relatives and friends of the jumpers.

While I sat there incredulous at what level of despair and pain these tortured souls must have been at to end their lives, my daughter and I both agreed that what was even more shocking was the families' and friends' acceptance of what was about to happen to these people. It was as if they too were at the end of their ropes; that they felt powerless to do anything and that it was something that was simply going to happen, just as surely as the sun was going to rise the next day. I guess it's something that most folks wouldn't undedrstand unless they were in that situation themselves.

"The Bridge" was both fascinating and disturbing at the same time, and while it was difficult to watch, it opened up a new line of communication between my daughter and I. For that reason alone, it was worth it.

The Bridge - Trailer