Eric Steel – The Bridge – Richard Walters – To Be Or Not To Be – The Ethical Questions

This is an important film about understanding more perspectives about suicide, forms of depression, and mental illnesses.

I give the film 5 out of 5 stars.

Usually, when I give a film 5 out of 5 stars, it is because I not only think highly of the film, but I also want more people to see it.

In this case, I’m not necessarily encouraging more people to see this film.  But at the same time, this is an exceptionally informative film that was created with a great deal of care, patience, and sensitivity.

This is a multiple viewpoint film with dialogues from people closely involved with friends or relatives who killed themselves by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge.  The discussions are informed, but not necessarily expert.  The opinions are earnest and well-meaning, but not necessarily good advice.  But observing and questioning the narratives could be a valuable exercise for some who have struggled with the related issues.

I want to personally thank all the filmmakers involved who worked so hard to create this film.

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The above text is the review I posted on Amazon.  Below is further discussion.

I was particularly moved by one sequence involving a man who happened to be taking pictures on a day when a women was attempting to commit suicide. 

The photographer was Richard Walters:

He was taking photos of the Golden Gate Bridge that day:

Here are a few of the photos he took that day:

While creating art, he realized a woman was climbing over the rail to jump off the bridge and kill herself:

In a moment of realization, he chose to put his own life at risk and reach over the rail, taking control of her, and pulling her back to safety:

He then sat on her chest and called 911 until the police took her into custody:

His interview closes with him saying: “The police did tell me that she was involved in another incident on the bridge, and they talked her out of it.  And I . . . I just hope that’s she’s doing okay.”

I want to thank Richard Walters for his actions on that day.  And I too hope she is okay.

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I personally tend to side with one of the friends who lost a loved one to suicide.  In carefully evaluating her past decisions, she said, “I made the mistake of giving him some space to recover . . . and that was . . . a bad call I think.  You know, I could have 5150′d him.  But also, I didn’t want to humiliate him and have him be in a psych-facility.  ‘Cuz I wasn’t sure if they were really going to help him, and I didn’t want to cross my boundaries.  But I will never again not intrude.  I won’t respect their privacy.  And I will not ever again not do something because I’m afraid they might be embarrassed.”

© All rights reserved by Eric Stell and the respective artists.

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On some related notes:  This movie investigates a core dramatic question famously phrased by Shakespeare’s “To be or not to be” – that is an important and humane question.

Often when a person dies, their death puts an end to many of the additional good things that person could have done for others.

Art, in some forms, is an attempt by a person to effect more good than one person can ordinarily do through normal one-on-one communication.  Through publication, and different mediums, artists can attempt to increase the good they are able to do for others. 

Some art, is also an attempt by an artist to continue doing good even after their life is over.  That is a positive artistic intent many artists may have.

A core “Sexuality in the Arts” issue is:  ”To create or not to create.”

That is also a worthwhile question.

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© All rights reserved by the respective artists.

The Bridge Official Site

The Bridge (documentary_film) on Wikipedia

National Suicide Prevention Hotline Website

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