What's the saddest movie do you know?

[Ozgun]

This thread is for uber pessimists. :)

Tell me the movie that damaged you chemistry for the next days. I'm not talking about regular stuff. Please dont throw stupid things like requiem for a dream and so. I know its so subjective but I think its overrated as my as.

My vote goes to the korean movie Address Unknown. I couldn't come to life for two days after watching it. Such a realistic, demoralizing movie. Soul tormenting, really. I gave it to my friend to watch, he said he couldn't watched to whole movie. This stuff is not your regular schindler's list. Dont say I didn't warn you.


There should be more secret gems like this movie. So share it gents.

[Legion]

The Japanese movie Departures had me a little teary. It wasn't really a "downer" of a film (I can recommend some of them, if you want) but it is emotional.

[Phog Allen]

Pan's Labyrinth. While beautifully filmed the death of the little girl bothered me a lot.

Regards, Todd

[gaseousclay]

the Japanese anime Grave of the Fireflies.

[EricAT]

The only movie that ever made me really cry was Grave of the Firefly's (the anime version). I had a few tears at the end, but after the movie I was looking up some stuff about it on the internet and found out that it was based on the authors experience as a boy in Japan in WWII after he and his sister became orphans. When I learned that it was based on a real story that is when the tear ducts really opened up.

[luvmysuper]

Sling Blade

Great film, but very depressing.

[auk1124]

Old Yeller.

[Crixus]

Every time I watch Midnight Cowboy I spend the next 24 hours pretty bummed out. More depressing than sad.

[Greg1911]

Grizzly Man

The entire movie bummed me out that any human could be as stupid as Tredwell.

At least it has a happy ending.

[ouch]

Grizzly Man

The entire movie bummed me out that any human could be as stupid as Tredwell.

At least it has a happy ending.

Not so sure about the happy ending, but +1.

Perhaps the stupidest man that ever lived.

[KM-instructor]

Well being raised up where it was a serious whipping if you cried, taught me from way early on not too so I don't cry.
If I lost a dog, that would give me a sad feeling.
so the movie would probably be Old Yeller.

[Legion]

Grizzly Man

The entire movie bummed me out that any human could be as stupid as Tredwell.

At least it has a happy ending.

+1000000

Funniest ending in film history.

[jansob]

the Japanese anime Graveyard of the Fireflies.

got there before I did...ditto.

[Razorburne]

"My Life" starring Michael Keaton and Nicole Kidman

It's the story of a man/husband who gets diagnosed with cancer and is only given months to live - during that time he sets out to video tape his wisdom and life lessons so that when his pregnant wife gives birth after he is dead, he/she will be able to know his/her father and he can teach his child something even though he is no longer around.

Overall a very sad premise - on top of that you witness his physical deterioration - very very sad - I saw it once and vowed not to watch it again.

[mark_mw]

Actually have two....

"Silent Running" where at the end the last plant and animal life from Earth is cast off into space in a bio-dome, tended by a robot, and

"Fahrenheit 451" where an evil society seizes and burns everyone's books
(the end is sad and happy and haunting all at the same time)

[spindlecone]

The days of wine and roses,the way we were.

[Ozgun]

Man, address unknown is much more deppressing than the grave of the fireflies, just watch it.

[malocchio]

"mother India" starring one of the finest actresses of all time ,nargis dutt....#2 would be "deliverence".....bad situation ....

[David in Boston]

Affliction, a 1998 film starring Nick Nolte.

[oc_in_fw]

My wife made me watch "The Notebook" with James Gardner. It is about a man whose wife is suffering from Alzheimer's, and he tries to bring her memory back to life by reading her a story which is actually about their life together. The final scene is gut wrenching for me. I don't know what I fear most- me losing my mental faculties or having the woman I spent my life with have absolutely no idea who I am. It is on occasionally, and I always have to leave the room when that scene comes on.

[LarryAndro]

My wife made me watch "The Notebook" with James Garner....

The final scene is the saddest scene ever for me. The saddest movie ever was House of Sand and Fog, which is an analogy for the israeli and Palestinian experience.

[Ozgun]

The final scene is the saddest scene ever for me. The saddest movie ever was House of Sand and Fog, which is an analogy for the israeli and Palestinian experience.

:thumbup1: House of sand and fog is a very depressing movie too, but not close to the one I mentioned.

[WhiteKnight]

Pan's Labyrinth. While beautifully filmed the death of the little girl bothered me a lot.

Regards, Todd

+1.

And Grave of the Fireflies. Left me devastated after watching it.

I should give Address Unknown a try...

Another tearjerker, but I'm a bit hesitant to mention it here as it basically is a typical Korean romantic movie, is a Moment to Remember. :-)

[hifigeezer]

The Japanese movie Departures had me a little teary. It wasn't really a "downer" of a film (I can recommend some of them, if you want) but it is emotional.

"Departures" was definitely worth seeing. The saddest movie I ever saw was "Skins", about two Sioux Indian brothers living on the reservation. The alcoholic self-destruction of one was pretty grim, sad because it was believable and not overplayed.

[Kevan]

Marley & Me

But to be fair, the director manipulated the hell out of the audience with that sequence at the vet's office.

[willyb]

At Close Range

early 80s, sean penn, mary stuart masterson :blushing:

Family disfunction at its finest. Love that movie.

[OLDMAN]

For me Saving Private Ryan always tears me up when I watch it. One because of the realism it brings to war and the slaughter that was Omaha beach and the personal turmoil that Private went through because of his personal demon that so many lost their lives to save his.

[kwk285]

Brian's Song

[jgkeegan]

Every time I watch Midnight Cowboy I spend the next 24 hours pretty bummed out. More depressing than sad.


You said it for me.

--james

[DavyRay]

Love Story
-or-
Lassie Come Home

[i_shaved_something]

Testament. A realistic post-nuke flick, maybe too realistic, just day-to-day life after nuke war. Def not a date movie ha.

[winston61]

'The Best Years of Our Lives'. If you can watch this film and not shed tears then you have an ice cream cone where your heart should be. Especially relevant for Memorial Day. :thumbup1:

[noahpictures]

the Japanese anime Graveyard of the Fireflies.

Yes! "Graveyard of the Fireflies" is one of the best and saddest movies ever but in a good way.

I also find "Life is Beautiful" sad.

[beginish]

Pixar's Up. That one killed me from the very beginning.

[The Nid Hog]

Pan's Labyrinth. While beautifully filmed the death of the little girl bothered me a lot.


the Japanese anime Graveyard of the Fireflies.

I saw both these movies with my daughters at different times in their lives. Wrenching experiences.

[Kenno]

Passion of the Christ and Life Is Beautiful. also 2 of the best films!

[Phog Allen]

Passion of the Christ and Life Is Beautiful. also 2 of the best films!

Yes it was.


Todd

[Obsessed]

Every time I watch Midnight Cowboy I spend the next 24 hours pretty bummed out. More depressing than sad.


You said it for me.

--james

For me, too.

[The Pontificator]

The Grey Zone

[bassmanlarry]

My wife and I watch a lot of Bollywood films. Most of the time there is unthinkable tragedy followed by redemption and a happy ending. But one that broke that mode was Kal Ho Naa Ho, or Tomorrow May Never Come. It's about a girl who can't let go of the past and the man who helps her overcome that. She falls in love with him, but he tells her he's married and starts pushing her and her best friend, a guy, toward each other. She and her best friend arrange to get married and we find out that the original guy is not married and loves her too, but has a heart condition and is dying. He attends their wedding, where he collapses, and later dies in the hospital, where she and her new husband come to say their goodbyes.

[binowatch]

Pan's Labyrinth. While beautifully filmed the death of the little girl bothered me a lot.

Regards, Todd

I didn't sleep well for days after seeing that.
"The Best Years of Our Lives" about the double amputee from WW2 was made as an upbeat film but after I saw it as a kid I was disturbed for weeks, my stomach still churns now that I think about it.

[Phog Allen]

I didn't sleep well for days after seeing that.
"The Best Years of Our Lives" about the double amputee from WW2 was made as an upbeat film but after I saw it as a kid I was disturbed for weeks, my stomach still churns now that I think about it.

Yes binowatch, I know how you feel. I have two daughters and cannot speak the range of emotions the film invoked in me. The chap who played the sadistic lead male character should have won an Oscar for his portrayal. Simply a pitiless, murdering blackheart who cared little for anything but his own imaginary greatness. And that precious little girl. I literally cringed at her pitiful existence.

I did not know what the movie was about when I saw the advertisements for the dvd and rented it. I was hoping maybe for some supernatural semi horror film. Boy was I wrong. It had those elements but only because the little girl created them. Interestingly the movie has one of the best shaving scenes ever. A very clear, accurate portrayal of a straight razor shave from lathering, stropping to the final cut. A pity it was a prelude the grandiose behaviour of the character. I have never watched it since. I am telling you people, unless you want to see a pitiful little waif of a girl shot dead for no reason, do NOT watch this movie. Spoilers be hanged.

Regards, Todd

[oc_in_fw]

Passion of the Christ

A film which, like all the Passion plays in Europe, was meant to do nothing but stir up anti-Jewish sentiment.

[TheVibesGuy]

Testament. A realistic post-nuke flick, maybe too realistic, just day-to-day life after nuke war. Def not a date movie ha.

Absolutely THIS!

[TheVibesGuy]

"Penny Serenade" with Cary Grant and Irene Dunne.

Very Sad, even though the ending is upbeat, still sad.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034012/

[Alacrity59]

Old Yeller.

Yes . . . I'm over 50 and as tough as jello . . . I try to avoid watching that movie.

[Dennis]

Requiem for a Dream. Ouch.

[Pbalkan]

"On the Beach" Devastating!

[OkieStubble]

'Million Dollar Baby'.

[Johnny Dale]

I have to agree with Razorburne that the movie "My Life" was the most depressing. I too could not watch it again.

"The Ghost & Mrs. Muir" with Rex Harrison and Gene Tierny always chokes me up at the end.

[Kenno]

A film which, like all the Passion plays in Europe, was meant to do nothing but stir up anti-Jewish sentiment.

I don't think so, i think it was meant to show christs life in a shockingly real way instead of cotton wooling it? If anything the romans looked worse. My focus during the film was on Christ and his amazing love for everyone considering what he went though which actually made me feel sad for myself and the way I live my life and that people could do this to such a person. to tell you the truth i forgot about the jews and romans. my focus was on the MAN!

[BingeAndPurge]

Restrepo

Telling Nicholas - a 9/11 documentary about a dad who, after waiting and hoping, has to tell his 7 year old son that his mother died. I was home with my son, 1 then, while my wife was in Iraq when I saw this. I was all kinds of a mess for a few days after seeing that.

[mme29710]

Marley and Me, saw it Christmas Day, and actually sobbed in the theatre, made me think of my two mini daschunds

[Kenno]

Inside job,,,,,,to think they all got away with millions while others lost everything! There were some funny bits when the ceo's couldn't answer some simple questions.

[SmoovD]

The Burmese Harp. Devastating film.

Another one bubbled up: Million Dollar Baby.

[MaverickPL]

Notebook, definitely.

Also Battlestar Gallactica's (the recent one) final episodes and ending are very sad to me (weird, but they are)

[fccexpert]

No work of fiction or fictionalized fact can have this type of effect on me.

[ChrisS86]

Requiem for a Dream. Ouch.

Absolutely. I love the cinematography and editing of this movie, but it is the most depressing movie I've ever seen.

[babafats]

Ok, so I might be cheating as this isn't exactly a movie...but the endings of the fourth and fifth seasons of The Wire are utterly tragic. Deadwood really kills me at times too.

To make this less cheating: the first fifteen minutes of Up are heartbreaking. The rest of the movie softens it to bittersweet, but sadness hangs over that movie like a cloud.

[Walter Sobchak]

There are so many sad films, I can't really pick the saddest. I can definitely remember the first film that made me cry, "Snoopy Come Home", although I'm sure that one had a happy ending.

A couple of films that made me feel pretty depressed in a visceral kind of way, not really tear jerkers, but more like psyche smashers:

Pixote (Brazil, Hectar Babenco, 1981)
The Color Of Paradise (Iran, Majid Majidi, 1999)

If you watch them back to back you're in for three consecutive days of depression.

[azmark]

The Notebook and Brians Song.

[California Cajun]

Chinatown, but the movie's ending makes me just as angry as sad.

The Notebook had a sad ending too.

Loved both movies until the end, and the ending is the reason why I won't watch either again.

[azmark]

Passion of the Christ

yeah that gets me every time.

[Chadtheguru]

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas was a heartbreaker for me. Totally ruined me for days.

[FunkeyMonk]

The Japanese movie Departures had me a little teary. It wasn't really a "downer" of a film (I can recommend some of them, if you want) but it is emotional.

I cried like a baby at that one. As a professional musician, movies about other musicians tend to make me want to vomit. But Netflix knows my tastes better than I do, and I'm so glad I took their suggestion on this movie.

[mmack66]

Inside Job

+1

[mollzo-dk]

Inside job,,,,,,to think they all got away with millions while others lost everything! There were some funny bits when the ceo's couldn't answer some simple questions.

D.E.F.I.N.A.T.E.L.Y. a sad SAD film!!!

The winner in "making you cry like a baby"-category goes to "THE COVE" This film had me falling out of the chair in the end, because of the hatred and sorrow - I was literally shaking!! It's that emotional (especially in the end)....


Other contestants could be the green mile ,

For a shocking ending; watch Remember me and DON'T watch spoilers or reviews - that ending will slam you square in the stomach!!!

[Mr. Imperial]

Another vote for Life is Beautiful. Watched it with my wife, cried manly tears of shame.

[Confilo]

Bambi meets Godzilla.
A very sad animation short

[pirateboy]

Xiu Xiu - The sent-down girl.

[emmetgilgunn]

operation jaywick (i think thats how its spelt) www2 japan about a group of commandos (or some such) who plant mines on ships hulls. i saw it as a kid and it left a lasting impression on me.

[Doc4]

Laurence Olivier did a great film version of Othello, which is one of my favourite Shakesperian tragedies.

[Allison's Anarchy]

Sling Blade

Great film, but very depressing.


'Million Dollar Baby'.

Sling Blade instantly came to mind and Million Dollar Baby came to me a after a bit of pondering. Amazing films.

[Malakas1981]

Passion of the christ by far

[johsa]

Testament. A realistic post-nuke flick, maybe too realistic, just day-to-day life after nuke war. Def not a date movie ha.

Another vote for this.

[jungleboss]

Juno Beach! Watching second world war vets choke up while talking about all those who died in the landing.

[profsaffel]

And yet ANOTHER vote for "Life is Beautiful". I don't get that emotional at films, I suppose, but this one nearly destroyed me. I took days for me to recover. Like a close family member had died or something.

[timsclips]

Gardens of Stone

[eyebright]

Life is Beautiful gets my vote too.

[Greyfox]

Brian's Song and Me and Marley

[Mazeman]

Pan's Labyrinth

The Road

[Mazeman]

Yes binowatch, I know how you feel. I have two daughters and cannot speak the range of emotions the film invoked in me. The chap who played the sadistic lead male character should have won an Oscar for his portrayal. Simply a pitiless, murdering blackheart who cared little for anything but his own imaginary greatness. And that precious little girl. I literally cringed at her pitiful existence.

I did not know what the movie was about when I saw the advertisements for the dvd and rented it. I was hoping maybe for some supernatural semi horror film. Boy was I wrong. It had those elements but only because the little girl created them. Interestingly the movie has one of the best shaving scenes ever. A very clear, accurate portrayal of a straight razor shave from lathering, stropping to the final cut. A pity it was a prelude the grandiose behaviour of the character. I have never watched it since......[SNIP]

Regards, Todd

Sorry. Not cool throwing in spoilers for a movie that multiple people have recommended, and that would probably pique the OP's interest. If it was too powerful for you, that's fine, but that's no reason to detract from the experience for others.

[nerdinasuit]

"Silent Running" where at the end the last plant and animal life from Earth is cast off into space in a bio-dome, tended by a robot

That's mine. Watched it as a kid and it still has an effect.

[norwood]

Since "the second half of any given Pirates season" is not a movie, I'll cast my vote for Up. Amazing, the tales Pixar can tell within the format of a "children's" movie.

[goatee]

got me pretty good when shelly winters drowned. but i was pretty young and impressionable.

[Masterkova]

Splendor in the Grass
The Pianist

[Angry__Panda]

the Japanese anime Grave of the Fireflies.

This times one million. I don't really illicit emotions but if anything came close it was this movie. That fact aside, I recommend everyone go watch it. The movie would have probably won like 40 awards if it was live action. Don't let the animatedness of it bother you. One of Miyazaki's best films. In fact, thank you, I shall go watch this now.

[Ozgun]

cmon gals, we need more recommendations

[josh_k]

"Schindler's List."

The scene at the end where he leaves in his car during the night and just keeps saying "I could have done more." It gets me every time.

[Brian-M]

The Deer Hunter is pretty damn sad.

[oscarbowman]

Sophie Scholl: The Final Days was on the TV the other night.

Fact-based Second World War drama re-creating the last six days in the life of the German student and anti-Nazi activist. Arrested for denouncing Hitler's regime, she spent almost a week under Gestapo interrogation, refusing to reveal the identities of her fellow resistance members even when sentenced to death.

The end took me by surprise! It was two hours in the making and I knew early on (hey we're talking Gestapos here) she was a goner but from the moment she was convicted and sentenced to death my mind was tormented how this was going to happen.

She was handcuffed and lead out to the courtyard. Ah I thought shot against a wall but no she was lead across the yard and through a door into a room. No I thought......Hanging. I have a personal fear of hanging! Then she was lead through to an adjoining room where the guillotine was waiting!!

Down on the bench. Head secured. Blade dropped. Movie over. Roll credits!

I was numb for some time.

[ackvil]

My wife made me watch "The Notebook" with James Gardner. It is about a man whose wife is suffering from Alzheimer's, and he tries to bring her memory back to life by reading her a story which is actually about their life together. The final scene is gut wrenching for me. I don't know what I fear most- me losing my mental faculties or having the woman I spent my life with have absolutely no idea who I am. It is on occasionally, and I always have to leave the room when that scene comes on.

My wife rented that one also. A truly beautiful but sad movie.

[Fortitudo Dei]

The Grey Zone

Yup. I thought Schindler's List and Life is Beautiful were sad films but they are positivity uplifting compared to The Grey Zone. I watched it with my wife as part of a university course I was doing and we were both totally shattered at the end of it. Despite being emotionally draining, it deserves to be watched (though very few people have seen it). True story too.

[Manthrax]

"Schindler's List."

The scene at the end where he leaves in his car during the night and just keeps saying "I could have done more." It gets me every time.

+1!

Having Polish Jews in my family and all, the whole situationof the movie feels very close to me.

[jcborr00]

Old Yeller.

I agree

[jcborr00]

My wife rented that one also. A truly beautiful but sad movie.

Yeah this movie was pretty sad.

[Blue Raccoon]

The wife makes me watch 'An Affair to Remember' every Valentines Day.

[scottish steve]

Slingblade was good and Pans Labyrinth did really kick you in the teeth with that 20 second shot which made you realise it was all the escapist dream of a deeply troubled 13 year old- subtle and vindictive as a lover:s laugh.
Grave of the Fireflies had me weeping for a long time. I couldn:t even understand it as I was watching it on Japanese network television, but it really didn:t matter- i:m filling up even as I type just thinking of that tiny girls voice. But for me, Dancer in the Dark has been the most harrowing film experience. I bawled my eyes out for 30 mins after it finished. Don:t watch it alone and don:t let any girl you know watch it alone. I think the reason Bjork didn:t do any more movies after this was because it was too harrowing to make it.

[Masterkova]

Big +1 for Dancer in the Dark - I forgot that one.

[buffdaddy]

Saving Private Ryan. I was just devasted by the violence of the movie and what the soldiers went through during the D-Day landing. At the end when Matt Damon is an old man standing over Tom Hanks grave in Normandy and his wife comes over to Hank's grave and talks to him. He asks her "Tell me I'm a good person and led a good life". Gets me everytime, and just bummed me out for days, and still have trouble watching it.

After I saw that movie my respect for those who serve/served in the military went up about a million percent.

[Dalejr]

Sad could be interpreted many different ways. My vote goes to Reqium for a Dream...

[Jimbo]

Johnny Got His Gun (1971) Now that is sad. It's the movie sampled and in the video of the song One by Metallica. WWI victim -- really sad.
Gran Torino (2008) Starring Clint Eastwood
Carlito's Way (1993) Starring Al Pacino
The Cowboys (1972) Starring John Wayne

I liked The Notebook. Without a spoiler, I'll just say it was comforting to me especially the end.
If Brian's Song is the movie I'm thinking of, it was a tear jerker.
I'll include Ol' Yeller and Marley and Me because losing your best friend is always tough :(

[telleuno]

My vote goes for ..."Up!"

[dklaiman]

Truly Madly Deeply

[Galengwath]

Black Hawk Down.

[Mike'sWorld]

"The Bicycle Thief" and "Seven Beauties"

After these two are over, you feel like kicking your dog so he can share in the experience.

[alexo]

The last two Transformers movies. So many people worked on them, so much work and THAT's what they could come up with?!...

On a serious note, a movie that I found sad and unique was "When The Wind Blows" an animated movie about an old couple in England after a nuclear war.

[stormpetrel]

Sorry, didn't read all the posts but "Phenomenon" got to me for some reason. I have had a few family members and friends go too early. I might be letting my man card go with this one....but there is a line (when he is dying) that goes something like "Will you love me for the rest of my life?" And she says "No....I will love you for the rest of mine".

[Mahoney]

For lump in throat, hide tear from wife sad, The Deer Hunter gets me everytime. When they sing God Bless America, i'm done.

[the fnger genius]

Moon is a real bummer. And of course, The Deer Hunter.

[Grumpy Typewriter]

Nothing gets you quite like when you're a kid. I blame Disney for the likes of "Old Yeller" and "Ring of Bright Water". Get a child really attached to an animal in a film and then.... well let's just say bad things happen to aforementioned animal... In fact classic Disney from the 60s an 70s was very comfortable in making kids cry.

[Slash McCoy]

Raise the Red Lantern
Dr Zhivago
Gone With The Wind
Old Yeller
Duel In The Sun
From Here To Eternity

[yakster]

the Japanese anime Grave of the Fireflies.

That's mine.