2 3 5 6

The Lovely Bones (2009)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalFantastical

After being brutally murdered, 14-year-old Susie Salmon watches from heaven over her grief-stricken family -- and her killer. As she observes their daily lives, she must balance her thirst for revenge with her desire for her family to heal.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Jackson
CAST:  Rachel Weisz  •  Mark Wahlberg  •  Susan Sarandon  •  Saoirse Ronan

After being brutally murdered, 14-year-old Susie Salmon watches from heaven over her grief-stricken family -- and her killer. As she observes their daily lives, she must balance her thirst for revenge with her desire for her family to heal.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Jackson
CAST:  Rachel Weisz  •  Mark Wahlberg  •  Susan Sarandon  •  Saoirse Ronan

Things We Lost in the Fire (2007)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalTear-jerker

A recent widow invites her husband's troubled best friend to live with her and her two children. As he gradually turns his life around, he helps the family cope and confront their loss.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Susanne Bier
CAST:  Halle Berry  •  Benicio del Toro  •  David Duchovny  •  Alison Lohman

A recent widow invites her husband's troubled best friend to live with her and her two children. As he gradually turns his life around, he helps the family cope and confront their loss.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Susanne Bier
CAST:  Halle Berry  •  Benicio del Toro  •  David Duchovny  •  Alison Lohman

The Space Between (2011)

UpliftingDepressingHeartbreakingEmotional

Montine McLeod, a world-weary flight attendant, and Omar Hassan, a prematurely wise 10-year-old Pakastani-American boy connect with one another amidst the chaos of September 11, 2001. When Montine discovers the boy's direct personal link to the terrorist attacks, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Travis Fine
CAST:  AnnaSophia Robb  •  Melissa Leo  •  Anthony Keyvan  •  Brad William Henke

Montine McLeod, a world-weary flight attendant, and Omar Hassan, a prematurely wise 10-year-old Pakastani-American boy connect with one another amidst the chaos of September 11, 2001. When Montine discovers the boy's direct personal link to the terrorist attacks, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Travis Fine
CAST:  AnnaSophia Robb  •  Melissa Leo  •  Anthony Keyvan  •  Brad William Henke

Losing Isaiah (1995)

UpliftingDepressingHeartbreakingEmotional

Khaila Richards, a crack-addicted single mother, accidentally leaves her baby in a dumpster while high and returns the next day in a panic to find he is missing. In reality, the baby has been adopted by a warm-hearted social worker, Margaret Lewin, and her husband, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stephen Gyllenhaal
CAST:  Jessica Lange  •  Halle Berry  •  David Strathairn  •  Samuel L. Jackson

Khaila Richards, a crack-addicted single mother, accidentally leaves her baby in a dumpster while high and returns the next day in a panic to find he is missing. In reality, the baby has been adopted by a warm-hearted social worker, Margaret Lewin, and her husband, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stephen Gyllenhaal
CAST:  Jessica Lange  •  Halle Berry  •  David Strathairn  •  Samuel L. Jackson

The Kindness of Strangers (2019)

UpliftingDepressingHeartbreakingEmotional

Clara and her two sons escape from her abusive husband with little more than their car and plan to start over in New York. After the car towed away, the family meets Alice, who gets them into an emergency shelter. While stealing food at a Russian restaurant called ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Lone Scherfig
CAST:  Andrea Riseborough  •  Tahar Rahim  •  Zoe Kazan  •  Bill Nighy

Clara and her two sons escape from her abusive husband with little more than their car and plan to start over in New York. After the car towed away, the family meets Alice, who gets them into an emergency shelter. While stealing food at a Russian restaurant called ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Lone Scherfig
CAST:  Andrea Riseborough  •  Tahar Rahim  •  Zoe Kazan  •  Bill Nighy

The Ice Storm (1997)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalThought provoking

In the weekend after thanksgiving 1973 the Hood family is skidding out of control. Then an ice storm hits, the worst in a century.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ang Lee
CAST:  Kevin Kline  •  Joan Allen  •  Sigourney Weaver  •  Henry Czerny

In the weekend after thanksgiving 1973 the Hood family is skidding out of control. Then an ice storm hits, the worst in a century.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ang Lee
CAST:  Kevin Kline  •  Joan Allen  •  Sigourney Weaver  •  Henry Czerny

North Country (2005)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalThought provoking

A fictionalized account of the first major successful sexual harassment case in the United States -- Jenson vs. Eveleth Mines, where a woman who endured a range of abuse while working as a miner filed and won the landmark 1984 lawsuit.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Niki Caro
CAST:  Charlize Theron  •  Elle Peterson  •  Thomas Curtis  •  Frances McDormand

A fictionalized account of the first major successful sexual harassment case in the United States -- Jenson vs. Eveleth Mines, where a woman who endured a range of abuse while working as a miner filed and won the landmark 1984 lawsuit.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Niki Caro
CAST:  Charlize Theron  •  Elle Peterson  •  Thomas Curtis  •  Frances McDormand

You Can Count on Me (2000)

UpliftingDepressingHeartbreakingEmotional

A single mother's life is thrown into turmoil after her struggling, rarely-seen younger brother returns to town.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kenneth Lonergan
CAST:  Laura Linney  •  Mark Ruffalo  •  Matthew Broderick  •  Rory Culkin

A single mother's life is thrown into turmoil after her struggling, rarely-seen younger brother returns to town.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kenneth Lonergan
CAST:  Laura Linney  •  Mark Ruffalo  •  Matthew Broderick  •  Rory Culkin

Certain Women (2016)

UpliftingDepressingHeartbreakingEmotional

Three strong-willed women strive to forge their own paths amidst the wide-open plains of the American Northwest: a lawyer forced to subdue a troubled client; a wife and mother whose plans to construct her dream home reveal fissures in her marriage; and a lonely ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kelly Reichardt
CAST:  Laura Dern  •  Michelle Williams  •  Kristen Stewart  •  Lily Gladstone

Three strong-willed women strive to forge their own paths amidst the wide-open plains of the American Northwest: a lawyer forced to subdue a troubled client; a wife and mother whose plans to construct her dream home reveal fissures in her marriage; and a lonely ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Kelly Reichardt
CAST:  Laura Dern  •  Michelle Williams  •  Kristen Stewart  •  Lily Gladstone

Amour (2012)

DepressingTragicSlow movingRomantic

Georges and Anne are in their eighties. They are cultivated, retired music teachers. Their daughter, who is also a musician, lives abroad with her family. One day, Anne has a stroke, and the couple's bond of love is severely tested.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Haneke
CAST:  Emmanuelle Riva  •  Jean-Louis Trintignant  •  Isabelle Huppert  •  William Shimell

Georges and Anne are in their eighties. They are cultivated, retired music teachers. Their daughter, who is also a musician, lives abroad with her family. One day, Anne has a stroke, and the couple's bond of love is severely tested.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Haneke
CAST:  Emmanuelle Riva  •  Jean-Louis Trintignant  •  Isabelle Huppert  •  William Shimell

Explicit Ills (2008)

UpliftingDepressingHeartbreakingEmotional

The film follows four inter-connecting stories revolving around love, drugs and poverty in Philadelphia  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mark Webber
CAST:  Rosario Dawson  •  Paul Dano  •  Jermaine Crawford  •  Rebecca Comerford

The film follows four inter-connecting stories revolving around love, drugs and poverty in Philadelphia  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mark Webber
CAST:  Rosario Dawson  •  Paul Dano  •  Jermaine Crawford  •  Rebecca Comerford

Inventing the Abbotts (1997)

RomanticUpliftingEmotionalThought provoking

In the 1950s, brothers Jacey and Doug Holt, who come from the poorer side of their sleepy Midwestern town, vie for the affections of the wealthy, lovely Abbott sisters. Lady-killer Jacey alternates between Eleanor and Alice, wanting simply to break the hearts of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Pat O'Connor
CAST:  Joaquin Phoenix  •  Liv Tyler  •  Jennifer Connelly  •  Billy Crudup

In the 1950s, brothers Jacey and Doug Holt, who come from the poorer side of their sleepy Midwestern town, vie for the affections of the wealthy, lovely Abbott sisters. Lady-killer Jacey alternates between Eleanor and Alice, wanting simply to break the hearts of ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Pat O'Connor
CAST:  Joaquin Phoenix  •  Liv Tyler  •  Jennifer Connelly  •  Billy Crudup

We the Animals (2018)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalThought provoking

Manny, Joel and Jonah tear their way through childhood and push against the volatile love of their parents. As Manny and Joel grow into versions of their father and Ma dreams of escape, Jonah, the youngest, embraces an imagined world all his own.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jeremiah Zagar
CAST:  Raúl Castillo  •  Sheila Vand  •  Evan Rosado  •  Isaiah Kristian

Manny, Joel and Jonah tear their way through childhood and push against the volatile love of their parents. As Manny and Joel grow into versions of their father and Ma dreams of escape, Jonah, the youngest, embraces an imagined world all his own.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jeremiah Zagar
CAST:  Raúl Castillo  •  Sheila Vand  •  Evan Rosado  •  Isaiah Kristian

The Messenger (2009)

UpliftingDepressingHeartbreakingEmotional

Will Montgomery, a U.S. Army Staff Sergeant who has returned home from Iraq, is assigned to the Army’s Casualty Notification service. Montgomery is partnered with Captain Tony Stone, to give notice to the families of fallen soldiers. The Sergeant is drawn to Olivia ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Oren Moverman
CAST:  Ben Foster  •  Woody Harrelson  •  Jena Malone  •  Eamonn Walker

Will Montgomery, a U.S. Army Staff Sergeant who has returned home from Iraq, is assigned to the Army’s Casualty Notification service. Montgomery is partnered with Captain Tony Stone, to give notice to the families of fallen soldiers. The Sergeant is drawn to Olivia ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Oren Moverman
CAST:  Ben Foster  •  Woody Harrelson  •  Jena Malone  •  Eamonn Walker

I Smile Back (2015)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalTear-jerker

Laney is an attractive, intelligent suburban wife and devoted mother of two adorable children. She has the perfect husband who plays basketball with the kids in the driveway, a pristine house, and a shiny SUV for carting the children to their next activity. However ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Adam Salky
CAST:  Sarah Silverman  •  Josh Charles  •  Thomas Sadoski  •  Mia Barron

Laney is an attractive, intelligent suburban wife and devoted mother of two adorable children. She has the perfect husband who plays basketball with the kids in the driveway, a pristine house, and a shiny SUV for carting the children to their next activity. However ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Adam Salky
CAST:  Sarah Silverman  •  Josh Charles  •  Thomas Sadoski  •  Mia Barron

Guy (1997)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalThought provoking

A young, female filmmaker looks through her camera for an object to film. She wants to film the private live of an ordinary person and starts following Guy. He is very irritated about this girl following him, always looking through her camera, never showing herself ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Lindsay-Hogg
CAST:  Vincent D'Onofrio  •  Hope Davis  •  Kimber Riddle  •  Lucy Liu

A young, female filmmaker looks through her camera for an object to film. She wants to film the private live of an ordinary person and starts following Guy. He is very irritated about this girl following him, always looking through her camera, never showing herself ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Lindsay-Hogg
CAST:  Vincent D'Onofrio  •  Hope Davis  •  Kimber Riddle  •  Lucy Liu

Clemency (2019)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalThought provoking

Years of carrying out death row executions have taken a toll on prison warden Bernadine Williams. As she prepares to execute another inmate, Bernadine must confront the psychological and emotional demons her job creates, ultimately connecting her to the man she is ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Chinonye Chukwu
CAST:  Alfre Woodard  •  Aldis Hodge  •  Richard Schiff  •  Wendell Pierce

Years of carrying out death row executions have taken a toll on prison warden Bernadine Williams. As she prepares to execute another inmate, Bernadine must confront the psychological and emotional demons her job creates, ultimately connecting her to the man she is ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Chinonye Chukwu
CAST:  Alfre Woodard  •  Aldis Hodge  •  Richard Schiff  •  Wendell Pierce

A Single Man (2009)

TragicGrippingDarkEmotional

The life of George Falconer, a British college professor, is reeling with the recent and sudden loss of his longtime partner. This traumatic event makes George challenge his own will to live as he seeks the console of his close girl friend Charley, who is ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tom Ford
CAST:  Colin Firth  •  Julianne Moore  •  Nicholas Hoult  •  Matthew Goode

The life of George Falconer, a British college professor, is reeling with the recent and sudden loss of his longtime partner. This traumatic event makes George challenge his own will to live as he seeks the console of his close girl friend Charley, who is ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tom Ford
CAST:  Colin Firth  •  Julianne Moore  •  Nicholas Hoult  •  Matthew Goode

Vortex (2022)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalTear-jerker

Lui, a struggling author with a heart condition, and his wife Elle, a retired psychiatrist, find their idyllic life shattered when Elle begins to succumb to the effects of dementia.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gaspar Noé
CAST:  Dario Argento  •  Françoise Lebrun  •  Alex Lutz  •  Kamel Benchemekh

Lui, a struggling author with a heart condition, and his wife Elle, a retired psychiatrist, find their idyllic life shattered when Elle begins to succumb to the effects of dementia.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Gaspar Noé
CAST:  Dario Argento  •  Françoise Lebrun  •  Alex Lutz  •  Kamel Benchemekh

Permanent Midnight (1998)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalTear-jerker

Juggling increasing career success and a growing heroin habit, a television comedy writer attempts to go down a path of improvement.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Veloz
CAST:  Ben Stiller  •  Maria Bello  •  Jay Paulson  •  Spencer Garrett

Juggling increasing career success and a growing heroin habit, a television comedy writer attempts to go down a path of improvement.  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Veloz
CAST:  Ben Stiller  •  Maria Bello  •  Jay Paulson  •  Spencer Garrett
2 3 5 6