Spikeopath
Tricky. For anyone familiar with the very real instance about the spate of suicides that has blighted the Welsh county of Bridgend, then this film is likely to be a mixed viewing experience. For sure during the film one can't help but keep thinking about the real events, the theories and facts of such, so it's a little distracting because Jeppe Rønde's film demands the utmost attention throughout. It should be noted with all seriousness that this is only a meditation on the real events, it's not offering up answers, so people should seek out all official text and documentary of the events for the real picture. The film operates in the haunting space of the ethereal, both narratively and visually, with the youngsters at the story's core firmly caught between two worlds. The behaviour of the youths here will cause consternation in some quarters, their recklessness and daring on the surface not making sense, but really that's the point. Sense doesn't operate, not here or in the real world.There's a number of striking sequences that show Jeppe Rønde as someone who has something to offer the indie art cinema circle. Such as the naked youngsters floating silently in the lake that has become their getaway place, and the finale at same lake that is akin to lambs paddling to their slaughter. Of course the director has had to fend off charges of sensationalism, romanticising suicide etc, that was to be expected, but he hasn't. He has produced a film of intrigue and emotional depth, one that stays with you long after that haunting final shot has vanished. 7/10
subxerogravity
Got to be honest, I did not get what was going on. I'm thinking perhaps I'm just too old to understand what's going on in the minds of teenagers, though at the same time, I do remember times as a teenager when I left like just letting go. The movie is based on actual events. A small town in the south of Whales that has had a high suicide rate among teenagers from 2007- 2012 and no explanation was given for why this was happening as the teens killed themselves without giving one. It looks like the filmmakers are trying to make as real of a narrative as possible to what was going on in the town. Exploring the day to day lives of these kids as they attempt to live their lives to the fullest until one day they just decide they don't want to anymore.I did like the look of the movie, and how it flowed. The main character, Sara was great to look at, I loved her interactions with other characters such as Thomas and Jamie, it was beautiful to watch and felt very natural, just a bunch of kids connecting. Also felt the music greatly added to the film. Bridgend really feels like the filmmakers are running the events through their heads to find an answer themselves to what's going on but never do. Bridgeend works without a plot, which does not work for me. The movie is met for a certain type of person and I'm definitely not that person it's trying to reach and I just have to except that. I did like the cinematography the art direction and the acting, but the concepts do not reach me and because of that I needed the answer these kids could not find.
feltlikealifetime
I'm not sure if the director was inspired buy Dogme 95 but Bridgend makes use of natural light to tell a tragic tale. The camera-work is very intimate and the colors unforgettable. The acting started pretty slow but I was pleased to see that the main female lead could handle drama effortlessly. The film doesn't bog down with plot and has almost no expository dialogue. It reminded me a bit of Wild Tigers I Have Known in terms of nihilistic teens and wild animals and most people might find it "weird" but I left the theatre smiling. As for the suicide theme, the dialogue was a bit hard to hear it all, honestly, and the motives for suicide were not completely as explored as the characters' motivations for living. Fire provides a dramatic motif with every flame crackle shown and reflected on the wild, boozy, teens' faces. If you enjoy Gus Van Sant films and can sit through a fairly slow-paced atmospheric film then I think you will love this!
Basem Taha
the movie analyzed the state of suicidal from all the different angles of the situation, Sara and the others are just hungry for life which the authority and the church are always and forever putting some limits in that town. the question that always being in front of your eyes is "Why?" and you just begin to ask "Why not!!!", it is not like you turned to be suicidal but somehow a person with a deep place in their side, we can be with Sara and her limits and her Jaimee! all of the movie aspects are just amazing, from the screenplay till the sound and visual effects. after the movie is done and you are in your way out of the cinema, you are just thinking in their situations, the day mare you had is just like that "all the things are justified enough to be in that way, they are here, actual youth who are in a continual search for their identity, just the forest of life had been waiting for them, so what is wrong with the actual world to be like that, and the problem is; it is like that!" that group of young people is not suicidal, but it is normal from outside, the effect of this is just you can take all of the youth as suicidal, or just thinking of this demon apparent from the life, and the love and the family. the problem comes to a new dimension with the family, their apart views and tight facts and limits upon us, the youth, and we will go fire the place, make the lights to conquer the view and let the spouses take their bedtime at ease! as an end, the movie is just awesome and i would recommend it to any and every young person on this planet.