Sometimes I Think About Dying, 2023.
Directed by Rachel Lambert.
Starring Daisy Ridley, Dave Merheje, Parvesh Cheena, and Marcia DeBonis.
SYNOPSIS:
Fran, who likes to think about dying, makes the new guy at work laugh, which leads to dating and more. Now the only thing standing in their way is Fran herself.
Daisy Ridley’s career couldn’t have got off to a bigger start with a leading part in Star Wars Episodes VII-IX. Since the Rise of Skywalker’s release Ridley has been picking some smaller scale, more intriguing roles showing she is keen not to rest on her laurels and prove herself as an actress. Sometimes I Think About Dying, which premiered at Sundance 2023 and is now getting a wide release, contains some of her best work to date and shows there is far more to her than just Rey. Ridley is also one of the film’s producers.
Ridley is Fran, a distanced, quiet office worker in an undisclosed part of the US who spends prolonged periods daydreaming of her own death as a means of escape, slowly navigating her dull daily experience even extending to her wardrobe of various shades of grey or beige. This all begins to change when she encounters her new colleague Robert (Dave Merheje), despite their outward differences and Robert’s more easy nature there is clearly some kind of spark between the pair.
From initially saying spreadsheets and work are the only things that excite her Fran begins to embrace the changes to her routine that come with her friendship with Robert, from taking part in a murder mystery game to seeing a movie that even though she might dislike, offers something different.
Ridley excels at capturing Fran’s awkwardness and uncertainty about how to approach this new friendship and what she wants out of it. So much of the film is dialogue-free, driven by Ridley’s facial expressions and the sublime work of Composer Dabney Morris and Cinematographer Dustin Lane. Merheje is a perfect foil, with his more confident persona, perfectly matched to Fran’s social awkwardness. Rachel Lambert’s direction is incredibly well observed and subtle crafting a gorgeously intimate piece built around Fran and her relationship with Robert.
For the darkness of its subject matter, there is a real sense of charm to the film in its portrayal of office work and it is to its credit that it never feels overly morose, which it may have in another director’s hands. It is a melancholic but often funny take on the mundanity of life and the importance of human connection.
Sometimes I Think About Dying, feels like a fresh approach to its subject matter, built around some of Daisy Ridley’s best work to date, that shows a passion for the project. The flights of fantasy balance of humour and more sombre moments for the most part work incredibly well. This is a sharply written, unorthodox film that will likely resonate with many and hopefully is a sign of greater things for Daisy Ridley who alongside a return to Star Wars has a hugely eclectic range of titles in the pipeline.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★ ★
Chris Connor
