Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘Just Say Goodbye’

Written by John Edward Betancourt 

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Whether we like to admit it or not, death is still quite the taboo subject in modern society. We simply don’t like discussing the fact that someday, our loved ones, our pets and ourselves for that matter will expire and pass into whatever awaits us on the other side and well, it’s understandable as to why we shy away from this particular topic. After all, who wants to focus on the end, when the journey has so much to offer, and that’s why we spend so much time and effort, celebrating the wonder of life and every waking moment that we are blessed with, so we can avoid the fact that eventually our hearts will break when loved ones begin to make their exit from our lives. Yet, that’s really just scratching the surface when it comes the taboo nature of death, because there is so much more that we could discuss when it comes to how we sweep it under the rug.
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But what’s relevant to today’s discussion is the sheer fact that there is one more aspect to death that just so happens to terrify us more than the end itself, and that would be suicide. Because the thought of someone ending their own life confuses so many of us, since we simply do not understand how a person could come to a point where they believe they would be better off dead instead of living in a world that offers so much and our fear of this and our confusion of it forces the topic and those considering it to be  to be pushed to the side so it doesn’t have to be dealt with head on, when it fact, it needs to be. But, important matters such as this cannot remain in the shadows forever, and one solid way to bring them out into the light is to explore them in the creative world and recently, I had the opportunity to watch a motion picture that tackles suicide and everything relevant to it in powerful and sobering fashion in Just Say Goodbye.

Now in this particular film, we are introduced to a young man named Jesse Peterson and Jesse, has seen quite the hard road in his short time on this planet. For when he was young, he came home one day to find that his mother committed suicide and her death, set in motion a chain of events that kept Jesse on an ugly path. For his father never recovered from her passing, and he turned to alcohol to dull the pain, and a bad accident along the way forces him to rely upon his son for food and proper care and well, Jesse’s plight doesn’t end there. For high school has proven to be just as challenging since he’s bullied on a regular basis and really, the only bright point in his life, is his best friend Sarah, and despite the encouragement and support that she offers, Jesse has made a tough decision in that, while Sarah is away on her trip to New York, he’s going to end his life. And unfortunately for Sarah, she’s now aware of this and must figure out how to convince Jesse that his life is worth living…

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So, make no mistake about it, this is a dark film that doesn’t shy away from its subject matter in the slightest and that makes this an uncomfortable experience to say the least, one that gives you pause when all is said and done because it holds nothing back. Because you are there to bear witness to every single heartbreaking moment in Jesse’s life. You’re privy to the day he discovers his dead mother, you are there for every single moment of abuse and rejection from his father, and you also have to sit through the bullying he deals with at school and I won’t lie, this story wears you down. It leaves you squirming in your seat, even more so when he reveals his plan to Sarah, since you’re now forced to watch her have to deal with the possibility of losing her best friend in the whole wide world and all of these unsettling moments speak to what makes this film so worthwhile.
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Because, it allows for you to truly understand Jesse’s plight, and why he’s making this devastating decision and you come to realize that he really has no hope when it comes to the future, and while you won’t agree with his decision, understanding it is key. For there is plenty of research to back up the fact that people who’ve taken their lives or survived an attempt felt (or feel) worthless, and hopeless, as though there is nothing worth living for and to see that present here, is heartbreaking and shocking but necessary to say the least and while the story in and of itself matters the most here, this is still a film. And the gravity needed to express this kind of a story fails without a stellar cast and thankfully, both Max MacKenzie and Katerina Eichenberger, who play Jesse and Sarah respectively, outright deliver powerhouse performances that are so good they confuse the viewer at times. Because there are genuine expressions of emotion that make you wonder as to whether or not you’re watching a movie or living through a moment.

In the end however, this is an important film. It’s poignant, it’s powerful and devastating and beautiful all at once, and it truly captures the human condition, and some of our daily struggles growing up and this is one that stays with you long after its come to an end, and it’s one that I highly recommend. Because this film has plenty to say, and its messages will hopefully motivate all kinds of discussions revolving around suicide and the myths that surround it and really, I have to tip my cap to Writer Layla O’Shea and Director Matt Walting for assembling a brave motion picture, one that is fearless in telling its tale, and one that reminds us of the value of every single person we meet and the sheer importance in being good to our fellow man because a sliver of kindness and an ounce of hope, can do wonders for the soul.

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