Review - Sometimes I Think About Dying
Directed by: Rachel Lambert
Written by: Kevin Armento, Stefanie Abel Horowitz, Katy Wright-Mead
Starring: Daisy Ridley, Dave Merheje, Parvesh Cheena, Marcia DeBonis, Meg Stalter, Brittany O'Grady, Bree Elrod
Running Time: 91 minutes
Rating: 3.5/5
In early 2020, as the world grappled with a rapidly spreading pandemic, an almost universal decision was made: where possible, companies began transitioning office employees to a new work from home status. In the years since, employers have attempted to replicate the physical work environment in the digital landscape to varying degrees of success. For some, it became easier to simply ask their employees to return to the office.
But what exactly made the in-office work environment so difficult to replicate? There is an undeniable je ne sais quoi about the repetitive cubicles under the flickering fluorescent lights. Something almost mythical about the insignificant conversations that we learn to integrate into our mornings. If you've ever worked in an office, you know exactly what I'm talking about. And that special something, so difficult to pinpoint, just oozes out of Sometimes I Think Of Dying, dripping from every frame. It's a magic we haven't seen since Elaine Benes screamed that she had to take a sick day because she was so sick of her co-workers, only to find herself yearning for what she cut off.
Daisy Ridley takes on the lead role as the taciturn Fran, an efficient employee who has found solace in the quiet monotony of her everyday life. She dreams of dying every now and then, not as a response to suicidal thoughts, but almost as a test to see if she's still capable of feeling anything at all. It's a significant departure from something as flashy as Star Wars' Rey, but it's frankly much more effective. Somewhat lost in the space opera, in the more mundane setting, Ridley is able to make every silent glare scream with context. It's judgment, sometimes. Other times, it's something closer to curiosity.
But Fran's consistent environment gets its own jolt when her office neighbor Carol leaves the office for a retirement cruise, ready for the next chapter, and is replaced by Dave Merheje's curious Robert. He's inexperienced, potentially unqualified for his work, but he charms the entire office. Merheje's ability to put the characters and the audience at ease is commendable. The rest of the cast due a wonderful job of building out the workplace. Of note, of course, is Meg Stalter, who is pitch-perfect every time she's on any type of screen.
As Fran and Robert continue working together, awkward silences are replaced by intentional silences and glimpses of conversations. It's to the credit of director Rachel Lambert that she doesn't cut away from these moments. She lets us sit in them, recoil, and reposition ourselves, learning to appreciate this muted dance they are partaking in.
The film doesn't do much in terms of reinventing relationships or office dynamics, and perhaps that's its strength. The simplicity allows viewers to immediately immerse themselves in the workplace; the kindness and generosity offered to Fran and her unique way of thinking are refreshing. Her considerations of life and death are not given any additional and unnecessary darkness or levity.
While Sometimes I Think About Dying doesn't threaten to stay with you until your dying days, it offers a pleasant and enjoyable journey during its efficient 91 minutes of runtime. The movie truly sings when Ridley's underplayed acting is balanced out by Merheje's natural magic. When the credits roll, you may just find that Sometimes I Think About Dying is a life-affirming beautiful moment.
Canada: If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call or text 9-8-8. Support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
