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Life as a House (2001)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalTear-jerker

When a man is diagnosed with terminal cancer, he takes custody of his misanthropic teenage son, for whom quality time means getting high, engaging in small-time prostitution, and avoiding his father.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Irwin Winkler
CAST:  Kevin Kline  •  Kristin Scott Thomas  •  Hayden Christensen  •  Jena Malone

When a man is diagnosed with terminal cancer, he takes custody of his misanthropic teenage son, for whom quality time means getting high, engaging in small-time prostitution, and avoiding his father.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Irwin Winkler
CAST:  Kevin Kline  •  Kristin Scott Thomas  •  Hayden Christensen  •  Jena Malone

Atonement (2007)

EmotionalDramaticRomanticHeartbreaking

As a 13-year-old, fledgling writer Briony Tallis irrevocably changes the course of several lives when she accuses her older sister's lover of a crime he did not commit.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joe Wright
CAST:  Keira Knightley  •  James McAvoy  •  Romola Garai  •  Saoirse Ronan

As a 13-year-old, fledgling writer Briony Tallis irrevocably changes the course of several lives when she accuses her older sister's lover of a crime he did not commit.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joe Wright
CAST:  Keira Knightley  •  James McAvoy  •  Romola Garai  •  Saoirse Ronan

A Girl Like Her (2015)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalTear-jerker

Sophomore year has been a nightmare for Jessica Burns. Relentlessly harassed by her former friend Avery Keller, Jessica doesn't know what she did to deserve the abuse from one of South Brookdale High's most popular and beautiful students. But when a shocking event ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Amy S. Weber
CAST:  Jimmy Bennett  •  Lexi Ainsworth  •  Hunter King  •  Amy S. Weber

Sophomore year has been a nightmare for Jessica Burns. Relentlessly harassed by her former friend Avery Keller, Jessica doesn't know what she did to deserve the abuse from one of South Brookdale High's most popular and beautiful students. But when a shocking event ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Amy S. Weber
CAST:  Jimmy Bennett  •  Lexi Ainsworth  •  Hunter King  •  Amy S. Weber

The Survivor (2022)

InspiringIntenseUpliftingThought provoking

Harry Haft is a boxer who fought fellow prisoners in the concentration camps to survive. Haunted by the memories and his guilt, he attempts to use high-profile fights against boxing legends like Rocky Marciano as a way to find his first love again.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Barry Levinson
CAST:  Ben Foster  •  Billy Magnussen  •  Danny DeVito  •  Peter Sarsgaard

Harry Haft is a boxer who fought fellow prisoners in the concentration camps to survive. Haunted by the memories and his guilt, he attempts to use high-profile fights against boxing legends like Rocky Marciano as a way to find his first love again.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Barry Levinson
CAST:  Ben Foster  •  Billy Magnussen  •  Danny DeVito  •  Peter Sarsgaard

Storm Boy (2019)

InspiringIntenseEmotionalThought provoking

Storm Boy lives a lonely life with his reclusive father on a desolate coastline, but when he forms a close bond with a pelican, Mr. Percival, his life takes a new and unexpected turn.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shawn Seet
CAST:  Geoffrey Rush  •  Jai Courtney  •  Erik Thomson  •  Morgan Davies

Storm Boy lives a lonely life with his reclusive father on a desolate coastline, but when he forms a close bond with a pelican, Mr. Percival, his life takes a new and unexpected turn.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shawn Seet
CAST:  Geoffrey Rush  •  Jai Courtney  •  Erik Thomson  •  Morgan Davies

Concussion (2015)

InspiringIntenseEmotionalThought provoking

A dramatic thriller based on the incredible true David vs. Goliath story of American immigrant Dr. Bennet Omalu, the brilliant forensic neuropathologist who made the first discovery of CTE, a football-related brain trauma, in a pro player and fought for the truth ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Landesman
CAST:  Will Smith  •  Elizabeth Tulloch  •  Gugu Mbatha-Raw  •  Alec Baldwin

A dramatic thriller based on the incredible true David vs. Goliath story of American immigrant Dr. Bennet Omalu, the brilliant forensic neuropathologist who made the first discovery of CTE, a football-related brain trauma, in a pro player and fought for the truth ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Landesman
CAST:  Will Smith  •  Elizabeth Tulloch  •  Gugu Mbatha-Raw  •  Alec Baldwin

The Glass Castle (2017)

UpliftingDepressingHeartbreakingEmotional

A young girl is raised in a dysfunctional family constantly on the run from the FBI. Living in poverty, she comes of age guided by her drunkard, ingenious father who distracts her with magical stories to keep her mind off the family's dire state, and her selfish, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Destin Daniel Cretton
CAST:  Brie Larson  •  Naomi Watts  •  Woody Harrelson  •  Max Greenfield

A young girl is raised in a dysfunctional family constantly on the run from the FBI. Living in poverty, she comes of age guided by her drunkard, ingenious father who distracts her with magical stories to keep her mind off the family's dire state, and her selfish, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Destin Daniel Cretton
CAST:  Brie Larson  •  Naomi Watts  •  Woody Harrelson  •  Max Greenfield

Marley & Me (2008)

EmotionalFunnyHeartbreakingOriginal

A newly married couple, in the process of starting a family, learn many of life's important lessons from their trouble-loving retriever, Marley. Packed with plenty of laughs to lighten the load, the film explores the highs and lows of marriage, maturity and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Frankel
CAST:  Owen Wilson  •  Jennifer Aniston  •  Eric Dane  •  Kathleen Turner

A newly married couple, in the process of starting a family, learn many of life's important lessons from their trouble-loving retriever, Marley. Packed with plenty of laughs to lighten the load, the film explores the highs and lows of marriage, maturity and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Frankel
CAST:  Owen Wilson  •  Jennifer Aniston  •  Eric Dane  •  Kathleen Turner

Heart of Champions (2021)

InspiringIntenseUpliftingThought provoking

During their last year at an Ivy League college in 1999, a group of friends and crew teammates' lives are changed forever when an army vet takes over as coach of their dysfunctional rowing team.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Mailer
CAST:  Michael Shannon  •  Alexander Ludwig  •  Charles Melton  •  Michael Tacconi

During their last year at an Ivy League college in 1999, a group of friends and crew teammates' lives are changed forever when an army vet takes over as coach of their dysfunctional rowing team.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Mailer
CAST:  Michael Shannon  •  Alexander Ludwig  •  Charles Melton  •  Michael Tacconi

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (2011)

EmotionalGrippingBeautifulUplifting

A year after his father's death, Oskar, a troubled young boy, discovers a mysterious key he believes was left for him by his father and embarks on a scavenger hunt to find the matching lock.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stephen Daldry
CAST:  Thomas Horn  •  Tom Hanks  •  Sandra Bullock  •  John Goodman

A year after his father's death, Oskar, a troubled young boy, discovers a mysterious key he believes was left for him by his father and embarks on a scavenger hunt to find the matching lock.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stephen Daldry
CAST:  Thomas Horn  •  Tom Hanks  •  Sandra Bullock  •  John Goodman

Warrior (2011)

PowerfulDramaticEmotionalGripping

The youngest son of an alcoholic former boxer returns home, where he's trained by his father for competition in a mixed martial arts tournament – a path that puts the fighter on a collision course with his estranged, older brother.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gavin O'Connor
CAST:  Tom Hardy  •  Jennifer Morrison  •  Nick Nolte  •  Joel Edgerton

The youngest son of an alcoholic former boxer returns home, where he's trained by his father for competition in a mixed martial arts tournament – a path that puts the fighter on a collision course with his estranged, older brother.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gavin O'Connor
CAST:  Tom Hardy  •  Jennifer Morrison  •  Nick Nolte  •  Joel Edgerton

Hachi: A Dog's Tale (2009)

HeartbreakingEmotionalBeautifulCharming

A drama based on the true story of a college professor's bond with the abandoned dog he takes into his home.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Lasse Hallström
CAST:  Richard Gere  •  Joan Allen  •  Jason Alexander  •  Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa

A drama based on the true story of a college professor's bond with the abandoned dog he takes into his home.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Lasse Hallström
CAST:  Richard Gere  •  Joan Allen  •  Jason Alexander  •  Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa

Jane Eyre (2011)

RomanticBeautifulEmotionalDramatic

After a bleak childhood, Jane Eyre goes out into the world to become a governess. As she lives happily in her new position at Thornfield Hall, she meet the dark, cold, and abrupt master of the house, Mr. Rochester. Jane and her employer grow close in friendship and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Cary Joji Fukunaga
CAST:  Mia Wasikowska  •  Jamie Bell  •  Michael Fassbender  •  Judi Dench

After a bleak childhood, Jane Eyre goes out into the world to become a governess. As she lives happily in her new position at Thornfield Hall, she meet the dark, cold, and abrupt master of the house, Mr. Rochester. Jane and her employer grow close in friendship and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Cary Joji Fukunaga
CAST:  Mia Wasikowska  •  Jamie Bell  •  Michael Fassbender  •  Judi Dench

Different Drummers (2013)

InspiringIntenseEmotionalThought provoking

When David accurately foretells the death of their teacher and says God told him, Lyle devises a plan to find out if God really exists.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Don Caron  •  Lyle Hatcher
CAST:  Brayden Tucker  •  Ethan Reed McKay  •  Colleen Carey  •  D.R. Anderson

When David accurately foretells the death of their teacher and says God told him, Lyle devises a plan to find out if God really exists.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Don Caron  •  Lyle Hatcher
CAST:  Brayden Tucker  •  Ethan Reed McKay  •  Colleen Carey  •  D.R. Anderson

To the Wonder (2012)

RomanticDepressingHeartbreakingEmotional

After falling in love in Paris, Marina and Neil come to Oklahoma, where problems arise. Their church's Spanish-born pastor struggles with his faith, while Neil encounters a woman from his childhood.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Terrence Malick
CAST:  Ben Affleck  •  Olga Kurylenko  •  Javier Bardem  •  Rachel McAdams

After falling in love in Paris, Marina and Neil come to Oklahoma, where problems arise. Their church's Spanish-born pastor struggles with his faith, while Neil encounters a woman from his childhood.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Terrence Malick
CAST:  Ben Affleck  •  Olga Kurylenko  •  Javier Bardem  •  Rachel McAdams

Reviving Ophelia (2010)

UpliftingDepressingHeartbreakingEmotional

No one listens when a teenager suspects that her cousin is in an abusive relationship.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Bobby Roth
CAST:  Jane Kaczmarek  •  Rebecca Williams  •  Nick Thurston  •  Lola Tash

No one listens when a teenager suspects that her cousin is in an abusive relationship.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Bobby Roth
CAST:  Jane Kaczmarek  •  Rebecca Williams  •  Nick Thurston  •  Lola Tash

The Red Violin (1998)

IntenseOriginalBrainyRomantic

300 years of a remarkable musical instrument. Crafted by the Italian master Bussotti (Cecchi) in 1681, the red violin has traveled through Austria, England, China, and Canada, leaving both beauty and tragedy in its wake. In Montreal, Samuel L Jackson plays an ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  François Girard
CAST:  Carlo Cecchi  •  Irene Grazioli  •  Anita Laurenzi  •  Tommaso Puntelli

300 years of a remarkable musical instrument. Crafted by the Italian master Bussotti (Cecchi) in 1681, the red violin has traveled through Austria, England, China, and Canada, leaving both beauty and tragedy in its wake. In Montreal, Samuel L Jackson plays an ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  François Girard
CAST:  Carlo Cecchi  •  Irene Grazioli  •  Anita Laurenzi  •  Tommaso Puntelli

A Love Song for Bobby Long (2004)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalTear-jerker

A headstrong young woman returns to New Orleans after the death of her estranged mother.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shainee Gabel
CAST:  John Travolta  •  Scarlett Johansson  •  Gabriel Macht  •  Sonny Shroyer

A headstrong young woman returns to New Orleans after the death of her estranged mother.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shainee Gabel
CAST:  John Travolta  •  Scarlett Johansson  •  Gabriel Macht  •  Sonny Shroyer

Cake (2014)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalTear-jerker

After having visions of a member of her support group who killed herself, a woman who also suffers with chronic pain seeks out the widower of the suicide.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Daniel Barnz
CAST:  Jennifer Aniston  •  Anna Kendrick  •  William H. Macy  •  Adriana Barraza

After having visions of a member of her support group who killed herself, a woman who also suffers with chronic pain seeks out the widower of the suicide.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Daniel Barnz
CAST:  Jennifer Aniston  •  Anna Kendrick  •  William H. Macy  •  Adriana Barraza

Imperial Dreams (2014)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalThought provoking

A 21-year-old reformed gangster's devotion to his family and his future is put to the test when he is released from prison and returns to his old stomping grounds in Watts, Los Angeles.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Malik Vitthal
CAST:  John Boyega  •  Rotimi  •  Glenn Plummer  •  De'Aundre Bonds

A 21-year-old reformed gangster's devotion to his family and his future is put to the test when he is released from prison and returns to his old stomping grounds in Watts, Los Angeles.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Malik Vitthal
CAST:  John Boyega  •  Rotimi  •  Glenn Plummer  •  De'Aundre Bonds
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