BY SEB JENKINS APRIL 1, 2024
Daisy Ridley stars as the reclusive Fran who loves an Excel spreadsheet but can’t seem to stop daydreaming about her own death.
The average person speaks approximately 10,000 words per day. Fran speaks just three. Sometimes I Think About Dying, written by Kevin Armento, Stefanie Abel Horowitz, and Katy Wright-Mead, takes us on the tedious daily journey of Oregon-based office worker, Fran (Daisy Ridley).
SYNOPSIS
Endless spreadsheets, colleagues who subscribe to Office Small Talk 101, and cottage cheese for dinner, Fran is trudging her way through life at the speed of a petrol-starved snowplough. That is until new hire Robert (Dave Merheje) takes his place at the desk next door.
REVIEW
After starring in a franchise trilogy as colossally career-changing as Star Wars, one question often rears its ugly head – what’s next? It is fair to say that Daisy Ridley has meandered somewhat since the release of The Rise of Skywalker in 2019, but Sometimes I Think About Dying is by far Daisy’s most exquisite performance to date. A heart-warming example of the transformative effect human companionship can have on us, Ridley conjures up an honest and moving portrayal of the introverted Fran, all without a thick script of dialogue to lean on. Based on the 2013 play Killers by Kevin Armento and an expansion from a 2019 short film, you can tell how much love and nurturing Sometimes I Think About Dying has had over the past decade, including Ridley’s efforts as a producer.
Director Rachel Lambert does a masterful job of portraying the sheer isolation and monotony of Fran’s life during the first 30 minutes of the film – like a can of Coke left to go flat in the sun. The viewer is forced to exist through Fran’s daily experience, without the relief of cuts, skips and flash forwards, to the point that even the most timid of comic relief becomes chuckle-worthy. When Robert joins the office, he serves as a splash of colour to proceedings, a dash of orange squash in Fran’s water. Dave Merheje’s portrayal is the antithesis of our protagonist; charming, personable, even whimsical. What proceeds is a touching tale of an isolated Fran finally crawling out of her shell.
The first hour is paced to perfection, as we slowly watch the integration of Robert into Fran’s quiet life, sailing across a backdrop of peaceful Oregon montages. Unfortunately, with so much promise, the film slightly loses us as we approach the climax and never quite recovers from Robert and Fran’s first relationship speedbump. The message remains clear and wholesome come the final scene and we are all the better for having been on Fran’s journey but can’t help but leave feeling ever so slightly short-changed.
Having said that, Ridley embodies Fran so beautifully from start to finish, while Merheje can’t help but bring a smile to your face. A special mention must go out to Marcia DeBonis who provides us with one of the most memorable moments of the film during her coffee shop monologue. “It’s hard, isn’t it? Being a person,” encapsulates one of the most important messages within the film – sometimes we feel down, and that’s okay. The next up could be just one desk away if you keep your eyes open.
STAR RATING
