By James Randall Chumbley
Palm Springs, CA (The Hollywood Times) 7/27/24 – The 2024 film, Find Me Falling, is written, directed, and produced by South African Cypriot, Stelana Kliris. Harry Connick, Jr. plays the lead, John Allman.
John Allman is an end of the road rock star getting long in the tooth. His last album bombing didn’t help his faltering career. To reevaluate his life while attempting to keep a low profile, he buys a small house near the edge of a cliff in Cyprus. His agent, Jimmy, played by Clarence Smith, calls Allman to come back to New York — certain that together, they can return him back to rock-star glory. Connick’s character just needs a new song to give the CPR his career requires to catapult him back on stage.
Some weeks later after purchasing the house, the air clear and the Mediterranean Sea glistening like white diamonds, Allman sees a man standing at the edge of the cliff in front of his house. Rather sternly, Allman calls out: Hey. What the hell are you doing here? Hello, I’m not selling my story if that’s why you are here? Without turning around, the stranger answers: Go away. Seconds later, the man falls over the cliff.
Connick’s character calls the police. Tony Demetriou plays the role of Captain Manoli. The captain apprises Allman, that the cliff in front of his house is a repeat destination for a lot of people who come to commit suicide. After Allman’s experience with the stranger who jumped off the cliff, he sarcastically asked Captain Manolin: Don’t you have therapists on this island?
Fast forward. One evening, Allman joins Manoli at a popular restaurant. While sitting at the bar downing a few shots and enjoying the local cuisine, a young woman, Melina, played by Ali Fumiko Whitney, is singing with her entourage of musicians. It so happens that the talented Melina has been delivering Allman’s groceries. As a result, an innocent-bantering friendship with the fading rock star develops. Whitney’s character aspires to become a noted singer but feels trapped on the small island.
During the evening, Captain Manoli introduces Allman to a group of his friends dining at a table in the restaurant. Sia, played by Agni Scott, is the last introduction. The sudden surprised expression on Allman’s and Sia’s faces as their searching eyes clearly indicates — they have been caught off guard. Undoubtedly, they know each other — although they don’t acknowledge it to the group. At that point, I already knew the connection between Allman, Sia, and Melina.
Find Me Falling is a cookie-cutter. Many movies are, regardless of the genre. Cookie-cutters are those where many elements of the storyline, in one variation or another, have basically been done and done and done. And then done some more. Find Me Falling has many. The only difference is the cast.
We come to find out, that this isn’t Allman’s first time in Cyprus. He’d visited the island many years ago as a young man, before becoming a famous rock star. At the time, Allman met Sia; they fall in love. He wants her to return to New York City with him. Allman waited for her at the airport, but to his dismay, she didn’t show up. Allman returns to New York alone, where he writes a song about her, The Girl At The Beach. That song became the catalyst in forging his overnight success.
After Allman’s departure, young Sia finds out she’s pregnant. Sia goes to the Big Apple to tell him. After attending one of his concerts, she sneaks backstage. Unseen by Allman, Sia is downhearted as she is concerned when she sees him surrounded by adoring female groupies making a fuss over the budding rock star. It gives her reason for pause. Sia doesn’t approach Allman to tell him of the pregnancy, instead returns to Cyprus to raise their daughter on her own while attending medical school — her own dream.
Connick’s character does redeem himself after the stranger’s tragic suicide. He begins the construction of a rickety fence made of chicken wire and two-by-fours. Allman also saves a girl from the cliff.
He eventually tears down the fence in what appears to be frustration and replaces it with a painted sign: Let’s Talk About It. Directly underneath, an arrow points toward his house. Although a good intention, most people who walk toward the edge of a cliff to jump — fall due to that breath-stealing emotional pain wouldn’t give that sign any credence, much less notice it. Yes, it’s good to talk to someone — plus see a psychiatrist, go to therapy, and stay on a steady regiment of medications. But even those don’t always work all the time. And what if Allman’s not home. You can be assured; they’re not going to wait for his return — To Talk About It.
Connick’s character makes a big gesture to get Sia back — to prove to her that she’s more important to him than his music. But afterward, she remains hesitant. Earlier in the movie, a question was posed between the two characters: If a person falls in love or jumps in love? Connick’s character insists a person falls in love. The next day, Allman is sitting in a chair in front of his house looking out at the sea. Sia walks up from behind. This time, without any hesitation, she tells Allman: I’m here to jump. His response: Don’t you mean fall? Hers: definitely, jump.
The namesake of the movie is the song Connick finished writing while in Cyprus this second go-around. It’s my take that Find Me Falling is about longing for the return of a love and heartbreak. Which is fitting for this movie considering Allman’s and Sia’s relationship — then and now. It’s the song Jimmy agrees will restart Allman’s career. Whether falling or jumping, undoubtedly a person committing suicide off a cliff to their death was intentionally used as a shameful segue to Sia telling Allman: I’m here to jump. In her case, its meaning was to jump in love with him again. Regardless, it’s still in reference to jumping off a cliff to one’s death.
In an interview with Kelly Clarkson on her show, in description of the movie concerning the cliff, not wanting to give too much away, Connick refers to it: as a place people go to do something unpleasant. Listening, as I watched the clip of the interview — all I could do was shake my head. I assure Mr. Connick that the act of suicide is so very far from unpleasant for the individual who takes their life and for those they leave behind. Kelly responds: It’s a pretty funny plot point. Although beforehand, she uses the word horrible. Still Connick agrees that the plot of suicide in the movie is funny. And while I’m shaking my head, all I can think is: WTF is wrong with Connick and Clarkston, and anyone associated with this movie — especially with screenwriter, Stelana Kliris. That’s some really sick humor.
On an up note: Connick’s and Sia’s characters make for a good pairing as somewhat star-crossed lovers due to hesitations, assumptions, different live goals, the Atlantic Ocean, 5,465 miles, along with a few other circumstances. The acting is good in this cookie-cutter. Also, Connick’s song, FIND ME FALLING is quite moving. And I love Whitney’s voice.
At the end of the movie: All’s well that ends well. Well, not for those who jumped off the cliff in front of John Allman’s house — or for anyone who does so in real life, by any means beside falling / jumping off a cliff. And, again, those loved ones left behind.
The flippant treatment of the societal issue of suicide by Stelana Kliris in the script of this movie is egregious — and it’s dangerous. As are Connick’s and Clarkson’s remarks. In fact, there was no need for the subject of suicide — none whatsoever in this cookie-cutter.
Stelana Kliris, the actors, and team associated with Find Me Falling, aren’t the first in the industry — as it’s also a nasty habit with many comedians, who have and continue to treat suicide in such a reckless and heartless fashion. And by doing so, they take peoples’ desperation and misery all the way to their bank accounts. If it wasn’t so tragic, I’d laugh at the use of the word heartfelt in the description of Find Me Falling.
International Association for Suicide Prevention:
There are some 700,000 suicides globally each year and those are just those who succeed.
58% of suicides occur before age 50.
Suicide is the leading cause of death between the ages of 15 – 29.
US Military suicides are on the rise.
Suicide and Crisis Lifeline / 988
