Content warning: The following article addresses topics related to suicide, depression, and mental health.
On Monday, July 15, she came to work for her half-hour-long community affairs program.
She began her show with a brief newscast, which was not customary for her.
Image via The Orchard
Fifteen hours later, she died at a hospital.
What was in her heart or mind we will never know.
So tune in next Tuesday.
The story of Christine Chubbuck, a 1970s TV reporter struggling with depression and professional frustrations as she tries to advance her career.
That should give the public relations people a week to promote the show.
You ought to get a hell of a rating out of that.
We might not have had this movie without a failed ‘Hellraiser’ reboot pitch.
It was a controversial announcement that could have led to a controversial film if not handled with care.
Hall knew this, tellingThe Irish Timesthatthe macabre subject matter was concerning and scared her.
Hall said:
My gut feeling was fear.
I didnt know why you would make this film.
Theres an endless circular irony to the things she did.
She was literally exploiting her own suffering in front of the world."
Rebecca Hall simply plays Chubbuck as she was, flaws and all.
It was true then, and it’s true half a century later.
Try watching your local news.
It’s all about the latest murder or fatal car accident.
Why do we need to know about this?
Christineis a slower, quiet, more intimate movie.
We get to know a nuanced Christine rather than simply see her for her final moment.
It’s ironic as well, becausesuch a sensational story knows that morbid curiosity will attract certain viewers.
Will they show the suicide?
What will it look like?Christinedoesn’t shy away from it.
It’s not about closeups and gore, with everyone screaming and every stereotype you could think of.
It’s heartbreaking, but even her death feels quiet.
Christineis a painful film to sit through.
It’s well acted (how the heck did Rebecca Hall not get nominated for an Oscar?!)
This doesn’t mean that you should forget about Christine Chubbuck once the end credits stop.
There are clips of her show on YouTube worth watching.
Her death proved her point, but she was more than that.
2016’sChristineis currently available to stream on the Roku Channel in the U.S.
WATCH ON ROKU
