The topic of loneliness and the need to connect is a widely covered theme. “Sometimes I Think About Dying” is the type of film that feels like it did nothing to shed light on the subject until you give it further thought. The title has been compared by those who watched it at this year’s Sundance as having the same aesthetic as a Yorgos film. In a way, it is. The narrative is completely first person, stilted and odd in its makeup. Not a lot happens, but like anything Lanthimos puts his hand to, there is always a deliberate brushstroke to the intention of what is happening on screen that causes an emotional reaction.
Fran is not your typical individual. She might come across as disengaged or uninterested, but she’s just not easily engaged in the mundanity of her external landscape. She is not depressed. However, she does like to let her mind wander and envision a dozen or so scenarios where she is dead. How would she feel, what would happen in the lead-up, and most importantly, how would her body display itself once the lights go out?
Work is something she enjoys but with minimal participation in anything happening around her, she gives the impression she is a singular force. Merely an observer, director Rachel Lambert shines a light on the monotony of office culture. People talk about what they might be having for lunch and topics that most can generally relate to. And she also builds quite a quandary with Fran.
Why Would You Even Like Movies?
Ironically, it is precisely Fran’s un-personality that makes her intriguing to others. Enter Robert (Dave Merheje), the new guy in the office. An innocuous email sparks a mutual interest. Their appreciation of cottage cheese draws them together and they go on a date. Sometimes, when we feel like we have nothing to offer, someone else can find us interesting and even fall in love with us. While Fran may have plenty to say in response to direct questions, she rarely opens up without being prompted.
In the first half of “Sometimes I Think About Dying” Fran struggles to comprehend why someone might enjoy movies. She never pretends to like something merely for the sake of it, which is refreshingly honest. It’s easy for us to be boring, and most of us are. Our relatability often stems from not understanding someone else’s hobbies, passions, or even their annoyance at people who don’t use an umbrella when it rains. The grey area between acquaintance and something more becomes less and less. Until, of course, showing someone who you are becomes a requirement.
Social Anxiety… Meet Loneliness
Fran’s (Daisy Ridley) most captivating qualities are her quirks. Glimpses of her dark mind and her love of cottage cheese are something she is comfortable putting out there. But what of the rest of her? Is it possible to build a wall around things that you feel can be accepted by others and personality traits you decide will never be? Sometimes I Think About Dying wants you to acknowledge there will always be someone who appreciates what makes you tick.
So, let Fran be an inspiration to embrace your unconventional side. In a world full of conformity, her refusal to conform and her unique perspective makes her intriguing and relatable. Next time you feel uninterested, remember that your idiosyncrasies might just be what captures someone else’s attention and opens the door to meaningful connections. What’s more, it might even show you what you’ve been missing all this time.
Sometimes I Think About Dying Movie Trailer
Watch the 2024 movie trailer before opening at select theatres in the USA on JANUARY 26, 2024. A dark comedy about life and love and a must-see for film lovers who like poignant stories.
Sometimes I Think About Dying is rated
4 It’s not cheese, it’s a curd out of 5
For another movie about being snarky at life, watch the micro-budget film, Toga.
Directed by Rachel Lambert.
Fantasia Fest 2023 showed “Sometimes I Think About Dying” on August 6th, 2023
Written by Stefanie Abel Horowitz, Kevin Armento (The Beautiful Liar podcast series), and Katy Wright-Mead (The Knick.)
The title was originally a short film with the same name.
