The S Word

It seems we often only hear about suicide after it has happened. But what about those who attempt it and survive? What becomes of them? These questions piqued the interest of director Lisa Klein, who explores the topic in her documentary The S Word. For Klein, suicide is a very personal subject as she had to face the suicides of her father and brother. Thankfully she’s set out to tell her story and the stories of others who struggle with emotional trauma. She also fights to smash the stigma attached to suicide, removing the guilt and shame that survivors often face. In the film, a variety of people talk about their experiences with depression and what led them to want to end it all. You may think a movie about suicide would be all doom and gloom - it’s not. The S Word is also full of humor and hope. It’s about finding silver linings and helping others to see that no matter how hard it gets, death is not the solution. (Cleveland International Film Festival)