The Jump Taisia Reshetnikova

An unwanted pregnancy is nothing to worry about, according to the 16-year-old Russian girl portrayed by director Taisia Reshetnikova in The Jump. This short film follows the teenage girl on her way to a bungee jump - she believes this adrenaline kick will free her of her unborn child: “I decided to fuck up my body. People say it helps.”

On the train the girl speaks casually about her situation. Yes, she loved the baby’s father, but he couldn’t care less. They just had sex to make up for her pain. So what’s the use of telling him about the “accident”? This pretty girl, with her red-dyed hair and grown-up look on her face, seems to know exactly what’s she’s doing. She’s pregnant but can’t raise a child by herself - so what could be more logical than going bungee jumping?

However, once she arrives at the bungee jumping facility the young girl’s determination crumbles. The camera watches her every move as she hesitatingly walks up the stairs, zooming in on her trembling, sobbing face as she stands on the edge of the building, ready to jump – but not ready at all.

Although Reshetnikova doesn’t explain much about her protagonist’s background, The Jump makes you feel close to the girl from the very first second. It’s slightly uncomfortable: we bear witness to an intimate, defining moment in her young life, yet we don’t even know her name.

The last part of The Jump mirrors the first scene: she’s back on the train, but this time is on her way home. Her attitude has faded, as has her voice. Reality has kicked in. It’s a cliff-hanger every soap opera uses at some point: what happens after an unplanned pregnancy? This ‘soapy’ association makes you feel like a voyeur. But more than that The Jump stays in your thoughts as a beautiful, simple and confronting slice of life.

Cecile Elffers