sad films

Oh no!!! My sister who is going through cancer and is a dog lover wants to see that movie. I saw it at the store and bought it for us to watch. We haven't watched it yet and I don't want to make her cry.

You might want to watch it first before deciding if it will affect your sister. It has a bit of sadness, but much of my emotion came from the touching loyalty that is at the heart of the movie.

The American Cancer Society has a good page on humor as a therapy for some cancer patients. They admit there's no actual scientific evidence behind it, but do feel it has positive benefits in a patient's overall wellbeing.

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ETO/content/ETO_5_3X_Humor_Therapy.asp

Just remember I have a very odd sense of humor.

On the Beach
The Blue Veil
Philadelphia
Splendor in the Grass
Elegy
Love Story

When I was a kid, there used to be what were called "Four Handkerchief movies". (The Blue Veil was one of them). Many people were not happy (especially women) unless they left the theatre crying their eyes out.

Brian's Song - I would say that was the first "sad" movie I ever saw.

Was there a subtitles feature? I always use the subtitle feature even with english movies for these actors mumble thru their lines and you can't always follow their conversation.

Yes, as I recall there was a 'Subtitles' feature on the main menu, but it didn't work. The only thing that was available in the form of audio was the director's commentary, which would only be interesting if you'd been able to watch the film with sound (or subtitles) to start with LOL.

Ponette

It's a French film about a four year old girl coming to terms with the loss of her mother.

I bought the film, but can't stand to see it again.

Antwon Fisher. You couldn't put a gun to my head and make me watch that one again. Too damn sad.

I have my blue moments, cancer surgeries, eye surgeries up the kazoo, but crying about dog moments.. I might take as somehow restorative - but that's me. I remember wanting to see it, and will put it on my netflix list.

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.

shoah

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoah_(film)

I'll be forward and recommend one of my favorite books in my last few years of reading - Primo Levi's The Reawakening. Not the book he is known for, but it mattered to me.

There's no movie of it, but it could work well as a movie.

"Brazil" comes to mind as it jerks you from thinking it's a comedy into a tradedy.

Then there's Shakespeare--Romeo and Juliet, Othello--any tragedy.

And the senceless war movies--Johnney got his Gun, Red Badge of Courage, Gallipoli, Paths of Glory, Glory and so on.

But I'm really surprised no one mentioned "Old Yeller" My gawd the dog dies.

As for me I was 7 when I saw "Old Yeller"--it was a life changing experience.


Rap

Makes me want to put Trumbo's Johnny got his gun on my list. I've never seen it, but read about it.

I think it was partly in Hindi so you might not have missed much especially with the guy. There was a big 50-70's Bollywood star in it. Waheeda Rehman who was 70-years-old in the movie. I almost didn't recognise her.

http://able2know.org/topic/132813-12#post-3983025
She appears in this Bollywood song

Thank you both irishk & ossobuco for your input. I will give it some thought before I make a decision on whether to show it to her or not. I appreciate your advice.

I watched Schindler's List last night on TCM, I think that was the first time I've re-watched it since it first came out. I can't remember the last time I sobbed so much or went through so much kleenex watching a movie. But the subject matter is so overwhelming, and the film is so beautifully done, it's really in a class by itself.

The first movie that I ever saw that really made me cry was Bambi.

I generally enjoy a good "four hanky" movie.

Terms of Endearment
Elvira Madigan (a Swedish film)
Penny Serenade (Cary Grant and Irene Dunne)
Steel Magnolias
Beaches
Ghost

I have watched all these and thought they were sad too. I can't think of one movie that has made me cry though.
btw I was TTH

My sister and I watched Hachiko together. She cried and I handed her tissues and I smiled. Like Irishk wrote, my emotion came from the "touching loyalty". The movie is sad but in a good way.
I truly believe it was good for my sister to cry just to relieve some of the stress she has gone through.