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DEATH LEAP

Documentary - Completed 2000

it is a personal, original view, sometimes tragic, sometimes ironic, of the jumpers - those who want to commit or attempt to commit suicide from the Golden gate Bridge.

- Year of production
- 2000
- Genres
- Documentary
- Countries
- USA, UNITED KINGDOM
- Languages
- ENGLISH
- Budget
- 0.3 - 0.6 M$
- Duration
- 52 mn
- Synopsis
- San Francisco is one of the great landmarks of the world, known not only for its beauty and stunning location, but also as the world’s most popular place to commit – or attempt to commit – suicide on the Golden gate Bridge.
  
  Over 2000 people have died jumping off the bridge since its construction in 1937. ‘Jumpers’ hit the water at 80 mph, a velocity equivalent to the body hitting a cement wall. However, there are about 26 people who miraculously survived the jump, some of whom we meet and hear their extraordinary stories.
  
  Jumpers have become such a phenomenon that there are now sophisticated video systems installed along the bridge as well as special Coast Guards and a ‘Suicide Patrol’ police unit looking out for potential jumpers. Perhaps, inevitably in California, it has also spawned a ‘club’ and website.
  
  This film is spectacularly beautiful, a surrealistic interplay between post-card charm and dark menace. It is a personal, original view – sometimes tragic, sometimes ironic – of the jumpers and would-be jumpers, their families and other people whose lives are affected by their actions. As with any human story, there are many moments of black comedy in this glimpse of dark side of the American dream.