The Bridge.

July 17, 2006 11:09 AM

A new documentary on the Golden Gate Bridge is coming out. In 2004 director Eric Steel and crew set up cameras on both sides of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge and captured two dozen suicides on film. The Golden Gate Bridge is reportedly the most popular site for suicide in the United States, as the iconic structure has no rails, an easy footpath to the outer railing, and a repeated lack of plans to construct any kind of barrier to deter jumpers. Inspired by a New Yorker article published in 2003, Steel combines interviews with family and friends with footage of the suicides and stands back, observing plainly through the lens. Steel claims that they prevented six suicides during the course of making the documentary.

One review of the documentary.
posted by clockworkjoe (10 comments total)

double?
posted by vacapinta at 11:16 AM on July 17, 2006

From the review: "The Bridge is competent, although a few generic elements, such as a smattering of “indie” songs played over sections of the film, slightly detract from the gravity of the film, as well as its subjects."

Did these "indie" songs save lives, or did the subjects only descend marginally slower as a result of the music?
posted by snofoam at 11:17 AM on July 17, 2006

Previously and previously.
posted by spock at 11:17 AM on July 17, 2006

"...slightly detract from the gravity of the film, as well as its subjects."

When you jump from the Golden Gate bridge, gravity is just about all you've got.
posted by spock at 11:19 AM on July 17, 2006

(and previously).
posted by obloquy at 11:19 AM on July 17, 2006

gee, i have not heard of this documentary nor this phenomena of people jumping off the golden gate bridge. thank you for posting this.
posted by keswick at 11:20 AM on July 17, 2006

Anything to feel weightless again, I guess.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 11:24 AM on July 17, 2006

As I recall from the New Yorker article, the number of sucidens could be significantly reduced by putting in a protective fenc e-like construcxtion but it seems more important to retain the "beauty" of the bridge than have the b eauty marred by something so ugly as a preventive fence. Ah, what we do for beauty.
posted by Postroad at 11:25 AM on July 17, 2006

Do not put a fence on that good bridge.

They'll find another way to kill themselves anyway. Also, the vast majority of the jumpers face east, towards the bay and city.

Unrelated, the bridge sings when the wind is right, which is often. Stand behind one of leeward bayside pylons on the foot path. It sings and even howls.
posted by loquacious at 11:28 AM on July 17, 2006

As I recall from the New Yorker article, the number of sucidens could be significantly reduced..

You mean, specifically, the number of suicides off the golden gate bridge? Thats the crux of the argument, really. Would it really stop suicides or just have them go off and do it where we dont have to see them?

I hate this thread. This issue is so divisive here in san francisco and full of simplistic arguments from both sides.
posted by vacapinta at 11:29 AM on July 17, 2006