Artistic representations of the delicate nature of suicide require extraordinary tact, sensitivity and sensibility — all of which are lacking in Casey Alexander's new film project "gamefish."
Alexander takes no pains to hide the fact that his film is supposed to be a commentary on the suicide of Manzili Davis '06. Though there is nothing necessarily wrong with making a film about a student suicide — though perhaps it is a little too soon to be airing a film about one on Princeton television — fault certainly does lie in the complete absence of any accreditation on the part of the director.
To make matters worse, by his own admission, Alexander failed to notify any members of the Davis family — an inexcusable act. Perhaps it would have been understandable had Alexander been a friend of the deceased, but he was not. In fact, he did not even bother consulting or collecting information from any of Davis' actual friends.
Of course, the film doesn't have to be about Davis specifically, but the shots of Hertz and EZ Storage, which blatantly allude to the tragedy, could only have been placed in the film to tip off viewers as to the real subject matter of the film.
Given these facts, any suggestion on the part of Alexander as to why the student committed suicide is completely ill-informed and irresponsible. The film adds some vague statement about the pressures of Ivy League environments, but to conjecture at all why Davis committed suicide is presumptuous, and frankly, not Alexander's business.
One wonders why he chose this subject matter. Perhaps the possibility that a film about a recent student suicide would attract great attention on a campus as small as Princeton's was too great of a temptation to resist.
According to the Daily Princetonian article from March 16, the director carefully guards his privacy. But what about the privacy of Davis, his family and friends, which has been compromised by a film that appears to exploit a tragedy for the sake of public and social gain?
It's clear to us that Alexander is looking for attention. Though writing an editorial condemning his film obviously grants his wish, we feel that his actions are inappropriate enough to warrant comment.
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