A superb movie allows us to temporarily put on certain emotions, as to donning a dependable, worn-out coat. Sometimes we look for a whimsical, romantic feeling. Sometimes we crave a rush that will make us feel goosebumps. On other days, we only yearn for a warm, cuddly embrace. However, there are moments when you just want to give into sadness and watch a tearjerker for the drenched, snot-covered solace they can offer.
1. Les Misérables
Les Misérables, which is based on Victor Hugo’s historical novel from 1862, features a complex web of tales of crime, love, suffering, and revolution. Hugh Jackman plays a gallant thief fleeing a determined lawman in this heartbreaking movie musical (which was adapted from the West End theatrical performance) (Russell Crowe). For her heartbreaking performance as the tragic factory worker Fantine, Anne Hathaway was honored with an Academy Award.
2. Steel Magnolias
The movie Steel Magnolias is a wonderful example of the need to laugh one’s way through suffering. When a loved one passes away, it may be exceptionally difficult, especially when it happens slowly and predictably, as it did with Julia Roberts’ Shelby, a young Southern lady whose type 1 diabetes puts her life in danger when she decides to have a child. The beauty of Herbert Ross’s heartbreaking dramedy, however, is in the way it uses humor to process grief and find solace. Because of the strong connection between Sally Field, Shirley MacLaine, Dolly Parton, Olympia Dukakis, Daryl Hannah, and Roberts, the movie booksends each devastating blow with a smile.
3. A Monster Calls
Modern story about grief, misery, and childhood, A Monster Calls. In it, a little kid (Lewis MacDougall) deals with the possibility of losing his mother by making friends with a tree monster (voiced by Liam Neeson), who offers him three instructive tales in exchange for the boy telling him one tale. The fantasy novel by Patrick Ness, who based his work on an idea from Siobhan Dowd, served as the inspiration for the film.
4. The Nightingale
The Nightingale, Jennifer Kent’s critically acclaimed follow-up to the monster thriller The Babadook, stunned and astounded her audience. This heartbreaking drama portrays Aisling Franciosi as a young Irish wife and mother whose hard but happy life is wrecked by the obsessive blood thirst of a cynical English captain. It is set in an Australian penal colony in 1825. (Sam Claflin). Her only option is to exact revenge, and Baykali Ganambarr, an Aboriginal tracker who has also endured the terrible treatment of English invaders, is heading the charge.
5. Marriage Story
The suspenseful story of a couple ending their marriage, written and directed by Noah Baumbach, split viewers. Some said they were shocked by whose “side” they ultimately supported. However, praise for the execution and impact of Marriage Story was practically universal in the reviews. Adam Driver and Scarlett Johannson, the leads, were praised for their captivating scene work.
6. Pieces of a Woman
Vanessa Kirby from The Crown stars in this tragic film about a lady whose life is irrevocably altered when her child, born at home, passes away soon after birth. Pieces of a Woman tells a heartbreakingly true tale of loss while delving into the emotional complexities of sorrow, marriage, and responsibility.
7. Other People
In this semi-autobiographical film from writer/director Chris Kelly about a young gay man who returns to his boyhood home to assist take care of his dying mother, Molly Shannon and Jesse Plemons play mother and son. Other People, which stars one of Plemons’ best performances, finds the humor and beauty in the moments leading up to feeling loss.
8. The Sky is Pink
Aisha “Aishi” Chaudhary (Zaira Wasim), a small girl who passes away and recounts the events of her parents’ lives from the afterlife, is the protagonist of the story The Sky Is Pink. It is based on a real incident.
9. All the Bright Places
All the Bright Places, another heartbreaking story about youths who find love despite their personal struggles, will appeal to fans of The Fault in Our Stars. A screenplay co-written by Jennifer Niven features sad performances by Elle Fanning and Justice Smith.
10. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
August Wilson’s drama of the same name served as the inspiration for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. During the course of one day of recording for her album, real-life blues singer Ma Rainey is portrayed by Viola Davis. The intimate interactions between her lover, her band, and her producers cause a devastating exploration of race, betrayal, and ownership.
