Kat Candler's "Jumping Off Bridges" is sad, genuine and beautiful.
Bryan Chafin's performance (as well as the rest of the wonderful cast's) were so convincing, it felt almost like a documentary rather than a feature film. The dialogue was realistic; not pop-cultur-y, not glib, not the typical teenage fare. Candler truly represents how teenagers talk. I know. I'm a college professor. I'm surrounded by them.
The color scheme was warm, easy to look at, lots of solid colors, oranges, blues, greens, some well placed burgundy, effectively moody.
The issues surrounding grief, guilt, depression and sadness are uneasy and beautifully rendered in her story and the actors' performances. Everyone is sorry. Mrs. Nelson apologizes for being the way she is. Zach is sorry for what happened to his sister. Frank Nelson is sorry for what his son had to endure. Eric is sorry for everything. The audience is sorry for all their pain, and WE FEEL as if we should have been able to help them, if only we just knew how.
I watched it twice so far and both times I watched it, I cried when Zach finally breaks down in front of his father. Frank is holding his sobbing son, apologizing, understanding his pain and my tears just flowed. "Thank you for understanding, thank you for understanding" I felt my heart cry over and over throughout that scene, as if I were the grieving son and a loving paternal figure was giving me permission and comfort and love.
The father, Frank Nelson breaks down in the school bathroom, a superb moment from Michael Emerson, didn't get to me as much as when Candler shows him standing alone at a faculty Halloween party. I was actually moaning this guttural, 'oh nooo, nooo, nooo' as I watched it. The isolation, the sadness, oh god, it was too much. Just when I thought my sorrow had swelled to its limit, he retreats, again, into the solitude of the bathroom. The audience knows. She didn't show it and she didn't have to. We know what he's about to do.
Good thing I keep tissues on my coffee table.
Another unforgettable scene shows Lindsay, Eric and Grove (I just love that name, Grove!) walk down the school corridor while everyone disperses and then eventually they do, too. The song lyrics were just perfect for that scene "I'd do anything for you...I did everything for you." Nice.
"Jumping Off Bridges" is an effective ode to the necessity of coping with grief, the impact of suicide, and the healing power of relationships.
Bryan Chafin's performance (as well as the rest of the wonderful cast's) were so convincing, it felt almost like a documentary rather than a feature film. The dialogue was realistic; not pop-cultur-y, not glib, not the typical teenage fare. Candler truly represents how teenagers talk. I know. I'm a college professor. I'm surrounded by them.
The color scheme was warm, easy to look at, lots of solid colors, oranges, blues, greens, some well placed burgundy, effectively moody.
The issues surrounding grief, guilt, depression and sadness are uneasy and beautifully rendered in her story and the actors' performances. Everyone is sorry. Mrs. Nelson apologizes for being the way she is. Zach is sorry for what happened to his sister. Frank Nelson is sorry for what his son had to endure. Eric is sorry for everything. The audience is sorry for all their pain, and WE FEEL as if we should have been able to help them, if only we just knew how.
I watched it twice so far and both times I watched it, I cried when Zach finally breaks down in front of his father. Frank is holding his sobbing son, apologizing, understanding his pain and my tears just flowed. "Thank you for understanding, thank you for understanding" I felt my heart cry over and over throughout that scene, as if I were the grieving son and a loving paternal figure was giving me permission and comfort and love.
The father, Frank Nelson breaks down in the school bathroom, a superb moment from Michael Emerson, didn't get to me as much as when Candler shows him standing alone at a faculty Halloween party. I was actually moaning this guttural, 'oh nooo, nooo, nooo' as I watched it. The isolation, the sadness, oh god, it was too much. Just when I thought my sorrow had swelled to its limit, he retreats, again, into the solitude of the bathroom. The audience knows. She didn't show it and she didn't have to. We know what he's about to do.
Good thing I keep tissues on my coffee table.
Another unforgettable scene shows Lindsay, Eric and Grove (I just love that name, Grove!) walk down the school corridor while everyone disperses and then eventually they do, too. The song lyrics were just perfect for that scene "I'd do anything for you...I did everything for you." Nice.
"Jumping Off Bridges" is an effective ode to the necessity of coping with grief, the impact of suicide, and the healing power of relationships.