Jumping Off Bridges

[spicedogs]

At henryholland's request, I am offering a synopsis of the movie Jumping off Bridges. If you don't mind spoilers, or will never buy the DVD, which I highly recommend that you do buy it, go behind the LJ cut and read it.

The movie begins with some teenagers jumping off bridges. They apparently take pictures of bridges during the day, and at night, around 2 am, they jump off those bridges. The exercise proves to be dangerous and there is a level-headed teenager among them who tries to put some sense into them.

 

As the movie progresses, we learn that something is wrong with Zack Nelson. He is more aggressive at jumping off the bridges; he no longer gets along with his best friend, and is not getting along with his family either.

 

His father, Frank Nelson, is the high school math teacher. We notice and they talk about that there are pictures of certain members of the family missing. Frank tries to connect with Zack and tells him he as well is very moved by what happened in the family.

 

There is some conflict with Zack and his older brother. Apparently Zack fells that his older brother is not at all upset about the death of their mother.

 

We learn that the mother was suffering from depression and no matter how much therapy she underwent, the sorrow could not be erased and she went into the garage, locked the doors, and killed herself by letting the car run in the locked up garage.

 

We are shown some tender moments between Frank and his wife, but you get to see that it is strenuous. Whatever was bothering her was so deep that no matter how Frank tried to reach her, he couldn't.

 

As the movie progresses, we learn that the tragedy that was causing Mrs. Nelson's depression (I don't remember her name) was the death of her daughter. Apparently, Zack (I am a bit murky in the details here) was to watch her, but he was too busy playing basketball, and she ran into the street and was run over by a car.

 

Zack feels guilty over his sister's death and his mother's death. Frank offers to send him to a psychiatrist, which Zack refuses. (We saw that scene in the promo.)

 

In another scene as Frank is teaching, he is overwhelmed with sorrow and breaks down in the bathroom. (A very heart-wrenching scene.) We also get to witness Frank's loneliness. He is invited to an adult Halloween party, wherein everyone has a partner, but him. At that party, he gets a phone call, Zack jumped off a bridge and may have drowned.
 

Now, here's where the movie is ambiguous. We see Frank and his older son in the hospital, and we don't know whether Zack makes it or not.  The next scene shows him playing with his friends, but it is done in such a way that you can interpret it as if it is Zack's ghost and his friends are remembering him or he did make it and is happily playing with friends.

This is the story to the best of my memory. I loved the movie, but I was confused by the way it ended. I am hoping that once I watch the DVD, I'll get a better sense of what was going on.

Comments

[benobsessed.livejournal.com]

OMG can I get it on DVD? Do U know where?

[spicedogs.livejournal.com]

http://www.jumpingoffbridges.com/mail.htm

[spicedogs.livejournal.com]

The DVD will be available October 1st. You have to get on their mailing list to get further information:

http://www.jumpingoffbridges.com/mail.htm

[benobsessed.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I have registered. They said they are going to emial when more updates are available

[mr-henry-gale.livejournal.com]

Do you happen to know if the DVD will be widely available commercially, perhaps in HMV et al., or will it be only available for sale its website?

[spicedogs.livejournal.com]

I don't have a clue whether it will be available commercially. I could try to find out and then let everyone know.

[henryholland.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for honoring my request, I'm really happy you did.

I so want to see this movie, it's right up my alley (I can't stand typical Hollywood movies, I love small, quiet, personal films). That scene at the Halloween party sounds absolutely heartbreaking. I can see why people were confused by the ending--normally I don't mind ambiguity, and I don't like buying in to the whole "I've bonded with these characters so I want to know what happens to them" thing, but I often feel like smacking artists who say "Well, the ending (or lyrics or whatever) is up to you, it's how *you* interpret it". Um, no, you've taken us that far, presenting your viewpoint, don't cop out at the denouement. If he lives, show that, if he dies, show that, we can handle it.

Thanks again for the synopsis, I'm really interested in seeing this. I have no doubts at all that Michael totally rules in his role.

[spicedogs.livejournal.com]

The fact that the movie was not a hollywood movie was what attracted me to see it (besides Michael Emerson). Neither one disappointed me. And yes, Michael Emerson was really great in it. His breakdown scene was amazing.

Apparently, both Michael and his wife do enjoy making and do support independent filmmakers. They are always auditioning to act in independent films. They are an interesting couple.

[ben-munchkin.livejournal.com]

thanks for this edith.

oh my i so want to see this movie now! im nearly in tears just reading this lol

[spicedogs.livejournal.com]

It's worth seeing.

[keyserzozie.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for this synopsis. I've been waiting for the film to come out on DVD and when I go to the States in October I'll be able to buy it!
I take it ME plays Frank, yes?

[spicedogs.livejournal.com]

I take it ME plays Frank, yes?

Yes, he plays Frank, and even though it is not a major role, it is not minor either. Of course, as far as I was concerned, he was not on screen long enough. LOL.

[keyserzozie.livejournal.com]

That goes without saying, of course. A while ago I sat through the whole of "Unfaithful" waiting for the Michael moment - a disappointment rivalled only by "The Legend of Zorro" and the inexplicable presence of that gruesome ginger beard - one can only assume that Antonio Banderas insisted upon it being worn in case Mr Emerson stole the show...
They couldn't disguise The Voice, though. Nor indeed, The Eyes :-)

[spicedogs.livejournal.com]

unfaithful was a real farce as far as poor Michael was concerned. From what I understand they cut a lot of his lines. Maybe your theory is correct: Richard Gere did not want to be upstaged.

He has a really nice role in JOB, but I'd love to see him in a starring role.

[keyserzozie.livejournal.com]

A starring role (****dreams****)
Personally I think he would have handled the husband's role in "Unfaithful" wayyy better than Richard Gere.

[spicedogs.livejournal.com]

I agree with you 100%. I am not that impressed by R. Gere.

[henryholland.livejournal.com]

I too recorded Unfaithful on my DVR and I actually had to go through the whole damn film twice to catch Michael's part. It's so small, I missed it the first time. He looks gorgeous in that tiny bit though, he's wearing (I think) a dark purple sweater and looks just lovely.

I can see why Michael got/is frustrated with bit roles in movies, so often roles like his end up on the cutting room floor. I wonder if there's a DVD of the Gere movie with the extra scenes?

Jumping Off Bridges DVD

[(Anonymous)]

You won't find the DVD in stores in the U.S (sadly) because it's an independent film that didn't get picked up by a big distributor; You'll only be able to buy the DVD directly from them online on their website: www.jumpingoffbridges.com They said that they've made 1,000 DVD's to start with.

Re: Jumping Off Bridges DVD

[(Anonymous)]

I read another review that said that after looking around at the faculty party, Mr. Nelson goes back into the bathroom to commit suicide; Is this true?

Re: Jumping Off Bridges DVD

[(Anonymous)]

Here's part of the review.

[QUOTE]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.[/QUOTE]

Re: Jumping Off Bridges DVD

[spicedogs.livejournal.com]

[QUOTE]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.[/QUOTE]


Where did you get this review from? It stears you in the wrong direction.

Re: Jumping Off Bridges DVD

[spicedogs.livejournal.com]

No. Frank doesn't commit suicide.

Re: Jumping Off Bridges DVD

[(Anonymous)]

Thanks for clearing that up; It was at: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0465509/usercomments