Sometimes I Think About Dying: Introversion, ideation and the monotony of working a 9-5

TW: This article discusses themes of suicide.

“It’s hard, isn’t it? To be a person,” states the character of Isobel in Rachel Lambert’s feature film Sometimes I Think About Dying.

‘Released on Jan. 26, Sometimes I Think About Dying provides a sombre and introspective look at creeping feelings of suicidal ideation and office monotony.

Fran, portrayed by Daisy Ridley, is a long-suffering office worker stuck in a familiar 9-5 environment of draining colleague small-talk and “depressos” from a Keurig machine.

Used to this routine, Fran finds herself upended when social, personable new-hire Robert (played by Dave Merheje) begins pursuing an open dialogue with her.

For many, this film will appear too slow and melancholy – moving at a turtle’s crawl as it slowly lets the audience into Fran’s mind and the challenges she experiences opening up to the world.

However, for those of us who have experienced the deep ache of depression that causes ideation, the film helps us feel a little bit less alone.

With cinematography by Dustin Lane and music by Dabney Morris, the film’s world feels isolated with a calm serenity located just under its surface – one that neither the characters nor the audience are permitted to settle in as the film moves from scene to scene.

With distinct and lingering still shots throughout, the film is a feast for the eyes – each frame carefully crafted to highlight Fran’s experience of introversion.

Noticeable is the shift in colour palette during Ridley’s scenes with Merheje – deep reds and more saturated colours come into play as the characters learn about one another.

The most distinct representation of this comes in a sequence where the two visit a restaurant – the scene filled with deep burgundy shades.

In fact, the world appears more vibrant every time Ridley’s Fran allows herself to feel – each of the scenes depicting her ideation daydreams markedly different than any in her workplace environment.

Dabney Morris’ soundtrack lends the introspective nature of the film a meditative tone, the sweeping composition elevating the film’s picturesque cinematography.

Combining these aspects of the film’s craftsmanship with Ridley’s portrayal of Fran creates a film that is truly special and one that can be re-watched multiple times to grasp different aspects of its message and contemplative tone.

Released on March 14 on digital platforms including Apple TV and Prime Video, Sometimes I Think About Dying is worth watching.

Rating: 9/10