This is not a feel good movie. The way the movie is presented from the get go is sarcastic and emotional. It's a movie that knows where it's going and does it in a uniquely quirky little flick. Yes, I know it's called "My Suicide" and one should expect something heavy with that in mind. But still part of me was thinking it would be more coming of age with a nod to teenage angst...or even metaphorical.
Archie is a teenager. Nice looking, smart, but feels lost. Something's not right in his life despite the pretty decent upbringing. You get bits of what he was like as a child and you learn just how affected he's been by his parents' lack of affection for one another. So much so that he replays as a happy memory the time his mom was grieving and the father came to comfort.
Archie lets it be known during his media class that he plans to do his project on his own suicide. That sets in motion the set up of all the pieces of this remarkable film. He has this crush on a girl at his school, Sierra, who he places on a pedestal and considers "perfect." After he announces his movie, he is Baker Acted...but not before being noticed by Sierra. It is interesting to note that Archie has a difficult time really expressing his reasoning for wanting to kill himself.
You learn, as he and Sierra grow close, that she's genuinely depressed with her life despite the exterior. She cuts because she feels nothing and you can see she doesn't get the love of her parents. She and Archie enter into a pact and she becomes part of his movie. They share secrets and feelings, and develop a bond which is codependent and unhealthy to say the least.
Things come to a head when a mutual classmate does kill himself and the grim reality of staring it down in front of him appears to make Archie second guess his decision. After he gets home, Archie feels comfortable to tell his parents why he's unhappy. In the meantime, Sierra attempts to overdose moving forward with her pact. Archie appears to have abandoned the pact. She survives but their moment does not survive as she movies on. It's like together is where we want them to be, but apart is better.
Throughout the movie, a character named Vargas (Carradine) reads snippets of poetry obsessed with the subject of death. Archie meets him and realizes they have misinterpreted his readings as he's more focused on love. And the death he speaks of is the death of the old version of oneself.
Very good movie with fantastic cinematography and effects to give an angsty and ADHD feel.
Archie is a teenager. Nice looking, smart, but feels lost. Something's not right in his life despite the pretty decent upbringing. You get bits of what he was like as a child and you learn just how affected he's been by his parents' lack of affection for one another. So much so that he replays as a happy memory the time his mom was grieving and the father came to comfort.
Archie lets it be known during his media class that he plans to do his project on his own suicide. That sets in motion the set up of all the pieces of this remarkable film. He has this crush on a girl at his school, Sierra, who he places on a pedestal and considers "perfect." After he announces his movie, he is Baker Acted...but not before being noticed by Sierra. It is interesting to note that Archie has a difficult time really expressing his reasoning for wanting to kill himself.
You learn, as he and Sierra grow close, that she's genuinely depressed with her life despite the exterior. She cuts because she feels nothing and you can see she doesn't get the love of her parents. She and Archie enter into a pact and she becomes part of his movie. They share secrets and feelings, and develop a bond which is codependent and unhealthy to say the least.
Things come to a head when a mutual classmate does kill himself and the grim reality of staring it down in front of him appears to make Archie second guess his decision. After he gets home, Archie feels comfortable to tell his parents why he's unhappy. In the meantime, Sierra attempts to overdose moving forward with her pact. Archie appears to have abandoned the pact. She survives but their moment does not survive as she movies on. It's like together is where we want them to be, but apart is better.
Throughout the movie, a character named Vargas (Carradine) reads snippets of poetry obsessed with the subject of death. Archie meets him and realizes they have misinterpreted his readings as he's more focused on love. And the death he speaks of is the death of the old version of oneself.
Very good movie with fantastic cinematography and effects to give an angsty and ADHD feel.