Why do people only give flowers and sentiment at funerals, and not to the living? This is a fact that many movies which address the subject of suicide fail to ask.
People do not think, until it is too late. Anyone who has lost someone, whether accidentally or by suicide, will empathize and be affected by this film. Mariette Hartley is excellent as Skip's mother, in denial about the "accident".
Howard Hesseman is also very good, working on his projects, avoiding reality, feeling he failed his son in some way, but not knowing what to do about it.
There is also a small part with Charlie Sheen, and his insensitive mother, who acts as if no one in her family could ever resort to such a thing. Sheen comments that she has no idea what goes on in the mind of a teenager. Chad Lowe, as Skip, portrays the disconsolate adolescent who is upset about his SAT scores, and decides he must escape from his life.
The character Penny, portrayed by Elizabeth Berridge, is very sensitive and real. She is angry at everyone, because she understood Skip and his suicide more than anyone else.
This is a film which should be shown in all high schools; suicide is a permanent and tragic choice for the temporarily depressed; unfortunately most parents are still too afraid to even acknowledge it, let alone try and discuss it with their kids. Hopefully future generations will be better at discussion, rather than sweeping emotional problems under the rug.
