Daisy Ridley Showed Her Range After Star Wars With This Charming Indie Dramedy

The big picture

• Daisy Ridley's role in
  Sometimes I think about dying
  it shows its versatility beyond big franchises like Star Wars.
• The film explores loneliness and the importance of human connection through the story of Fran and her budding relationship with Robert.
• Ridley's performance as Fran demonstrates her ability to portray complex, introverted characters with depth and authenticity.

It's no wonder we lose track of performers who star in big franchises after moving on to other projects. Unless they immediately become household names, like now twilight's Robert Pattinson i Kristen Stewart, or appear in equally explosive roles, such as Oscar Isaac moving from War of the galaxies a dune, we can often forget, and in the blink of an eye, their moment in the limelight simply fades away. He became famous all over the world for playing Rey in the most recent War of the galaxies trilogy, Daisy Ridley it didn't follow his stint in a galaxy far, far away with tons of massive projects. However, recently, with the launch of The young woman and the sea i The Swamp King's Daughter, Ridley is back in the spotlight once again. But earlier this year, Ridley may have produced and starred in the coolest project of his career to date, a little indie drama with a slightly troubling title. Sometimes I think about dying.

Directed by Rachel Lambertthe film, which can also be described as a romantic comedy depending on who you ask, began production in 2021. It premiered at Sundance in 2023 and didn't hit audiences until January 2024. Currently. on VOD, Sometimes I think about dying is based on a work called assassinsfor Kevin Armentoand in a short film also titled Sometimes I think about dyingdirected by Stephanie Abel Horowitzboth work as screenwriters on the side Katy Wright-Mead. The story centers around an office worker played by Ridley who is plagued not necessarily with suicidal thoughts, but with images of herself dying in various ways. Sometimes it hangs from a crane, while other times it is simply eaten by insects in the forest. His fantasies about leaving this world behind, however, are interrupted when a new employee arrives at his office and the two begin a tentative romantic relationship. Fran may not be cured of her depression, but Robert (Dave Merheje) does make her want to try to enter the world of the living at least a little.

“Sometimes I Think About Dying” has a unique way of looking at loneliness

The result is a film about loneliness and sadness that hits home like few others. Sometimes I think about dying understand that being isolated is not always an option, but sometimes something that just happens to a person, whether they want it or not. Sure, there are moments in the film where we see Fran avoiding human interaction, like when her co-workers throw a farewell party for a colleague who is about to retire. In this scene, it's pretty clear that he's doing everything in his power to stay as far away from the others as possible, quickly stealing a slice of cake and heading back to his cubicle. But as Robert begins to make his presence known, and as Fran repeatedly tries to interact with him through awkward jokes – “What do you call a sad cafe? A depresso” – it becomes clear that her loneliness is not it's just a matter of misanthropy. . Social interaction is like a muscle, Sometimes I think about dying it tells us that it can atrophy from lack of use.

Just as he understands that voluntary detachment and the inability to connect can often overlap, Sometimes I think about dying don't subscribe to the theory that everyone is secretly lonely or depressed. Or at least that's not the story he's trying to tell. What the film does is acknowledge that each person has their own issues to deal with and that inner pain doesn't make anyone special. It's pretty clear that the people around Fran can muster a level of socialization that she's completely incapable of, and that they don't experience isolation in the same way that she does. However, when, in the final scenes, Fran meets Carol (Marcia De Bonis), the retired co-worker who supposedly went on a cruise, and learns that she had to cancel the trip because her husband had a stroke, it becomes clear to her that she is not the only one suffer in the world

More than that, it becomes clear to Fran that suffering in silence can be much more difficult than opening up to someone. After all, Carol kept her husband's stroke a secret from the co-workers who functioned as her little family, and so no one really understands her tears when she breaks down at the office party. They just think she's excited by the surprise. Fran, however, learns the truth, and this set Sometimes I think about dying on a path to becoming a much more hopeful film. After her conversation with Carol, Fran decides to make an effort to try to communicate. Most importantly, she decides to open up to Robert after hurting his feelings in an almost reflexive attempt to keep him out of her life. It's the first time she's really talked about wanting to die, and Robert's hug indicates that things might get better now that she's decided to try.

'Sometimes I think about dying' is well directed

The imaginary plants that fill the room as Robert hugs Fran also point to a better tomorrow. Life finally has room to grow. Lambert has a good eye for making Fran's world seem cold, even in the warm moments when the sun shines through her window as she lies on the floor, and her death fantasies feel warm and cozy despite the chills blue shades of the beach in which La Fran lies unconscious, with her eyes wide open. Through his lens, Lambert tells us that the images conjured up by Fran are not traumatic or scary for her, but comfortable and even soothing. This is precisely what makes them so terrifying: Fran has become so detached from life itself that she finds solace in the idea of ​​dying.

This is also shown by Fran's lack of interest in the things around her. He doesn't just find people unpleasant, but basically everything. The movie highlights the fact that he really has no pleasure. Apart from a few potted plants, her home is completely devoid of decorations. Although she tells Robert that she likes to cook, we don't see her making anything other than cottage cheese toasties, which she describes as her favorite food. On her first date with Robert, they watch a movie that she hates, and she can't even begin to put into words why she didn't like it. Through Robert, however, Fran begins to find pleasure in small things, from movies to murder mystery parties. This doesn't happen in a way that feels like I'm healing her: she's still very difficult, closed off, and quiet, but by opening up to a person, she's also starting to open up to the world.

And the world around Fran feels very real and alive. The actors, most of whom you'll probably only recognize from small roles here and there, don't look like they're in a movie for a second. We mean that as a compliment, of course. They all seem like real people you might know and love, or even hate. You could say that Fran's distance from others helps in this regard, as no one aside from Robert, Carol, and maybe Garrett (Parvesh Cheena) actually develop beyond who they are at work, but the characters don't feel like easy stereotypes either. Just by looking at them, we can infer that they have a much more complicated inner life and personality than they initially give away.

'Sometimes I think about dying' is Daisy Ridley's show

But the star of the film is, of course, Ridley. Calling Sometimes I think about dying a one-woman show wouldn't be exactly right. Ridley shares most of his screen time with Robert de Merheje. Despite this, the film is a character-driven piece, and there really couldn't be a better actress for Fran than Ridley. Embracing awkwardness like few would be able to do, the former Jedi is able to transform into a depressed office worker seamlessly. And make no mistake: there is no subterfuge quite like a hot librarian in glasses Sometimes I think about dying. It's all in Ridley's beautiful performance. Her stooped posture, her sullen and grumpy expression, her constant biting of her nails, the mischievous smiles she allows herself when she dreams of death… Everything comes together to create a character that feels palpable, that woman in the office than an old woman The co-worker would probably complain about being so pretty, but so obnoxious.

Because, yes, Fran is a very unpleasant person. If Robert succeeds in breaking through his barriers, it is only through sheer force of will. Unlike Rey, who is charming, outgoing and full of energy, Fran is unpleasant, introverted and depressed. Giving Ridley a character so different from what she became known for, Sometimes I think about dying it allows him to showcase a completely different skill set. It is an essential film for his career as it shows that he can carry an entire project. And not just any project, mind you. Sometimes I think about dying it's a delicate exploration of isolation and depression, and much of what makes it so powerful has to do with Ridley's performance. Being responsible for the success of such a profound film is as big a feat as mastering a lightsaber.

Sometimes I think about dying is available to rent on Amazon in the US

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