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Life As We Know It (2010)

FunnyRomanticThought provokingUplifting

After a distastrous first date for caterer Holly and network sports director Messer, all they have is common is a dislike for each other and their love for their goddaughter Sophie. But when they suddenly become all Sophie has in this world, Holly and Messer must ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Greg Berlanti
CAST:  Katherine Heigl  •  Josh Duhamel  •  Christina Hendricks  •  Josh Lucas

After a distastrous first date for caterer Holly and network sports director Messer, all they have is common is a dislike for each other and their love for their goddaughter Sophie. But when they suddenly become all Sophie has in this world, Holly and Messer must ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Greg Berlanti
CAST:  Katherine Heigl  •  Josh Duhamel  •  Christina Hendricks  •  Josh Lucas

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

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

Ginger & Rosa (2012)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalTear-jerker

A look at the lives of two teenage girls - inseparable friends Ginger and Rosa -- growing up in 1960s London as the Cuban Missile Crisis looms, and the pivotal event the comes to redefine their relationship.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sally Potter
CAST:  Elle Fanning  •  Alice Englert  •  Christina Hendricks  •  Alessandro Nivola

A look at the lives of two teenage girls - inseparable friends Ginger and Rosa -- growing up in 1960s London as the Cuban Missile Crisis looms, and the pivotal event the comes to redefine their relationship.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sally Potter
CAST:  Elle Fanning  •  Alice Englert  •  Christina Hendricks  •  Alessandro Nivola

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

Steel City (2006)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalTear-jerker

After a tragic accident caused by the truck of the middle-aged Carl Lee where a woman dies with a crushed stern, he is arrested and sent to the county jail. His son PJ, who works washing dishes and cleaning tables in a restaurant, feels lost, without financial ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Brian Jun
CAST:  Jamie Anne Allman  •  Raymond J. Barry  •  Tom Guiry  •  Kristian Best

After a tragic accident caused by the truck of the middle-aged Carl Lee where a woman dies with a crushed stern, he is arrested and sent to the county jail. His son PJ, who works washing dishes and cleaning tables in a restaurant, feels lost, without financial ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Brian Jun
CAST:  Jamie Anne Allman  •  Raymond J. Barry  •  Tom Guiry  •  Kristian Best

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Manic (2001)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalThought provoking

Follows the fate of Lyle, a violent adolescent who, in lieu of prison, is placed in a juvenile mental institution where he encounters a group of equally troubled teens. This motley crew - abused, sexually confused, violent, and yet hanging on by their grit and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jordan Melamed
CAST:  Joseph Gordon-Levitt  •  Don Cheadle  •  Elden Henson  •  Cody Lightning

Follows the fate of Lyle, a violent adolescent who, in lieu of prison, is placed in a juvenile mental institution where he encounters a group of equally troubled teens. This motley crew - abused, sexually confused, violent, and yet hanging on by their grit and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jordan Melamed
CAST:  Joseph Gordon-Levitt  •  Don Cheadle  •  Elden Henson  •  Cody Lightning

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

Day Zero (2007)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalThought provoking

The military draft is back. Three best friends are drafted and given 30 days to report for duty. In that time they're forced to confront everything they believe about courage, duty, love, friendship and honor. If called to serve, what would you do?  (more)

DIRECTION:  Bryan Gunnar Cole
CAST:  Elijah Wood  •  Chris Klein  •  Ginnifer Goodwin  •  Ally Sheedy

The military draft is back. Three best friends are drafted and given 30 days to report for duty. In that time they're forced to confront everything they believe about courage, duty, love, friendship and honor. If called to serve, what would you do?  (more)

DIRECTION:  Bryan Gunnar Cole
CAST:  Elijah Wood  •  Chris Klein  •  Ginnifer Goodwin  •  Ally Sheedy

Chelsea Walls (2001)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalThought provoking

This movie tells five stories set in a single day at the famed Chelsea Hotel in New York City, involving an ensemble cast of some 30-35 characters.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ethan Hawke
CAST:  Uma Thurman  •  Guillermo Díaz  •  Vincent D'Onofrio  •  Kris Kristofferson

This movie tells five stories set in a single day at the famed Chelsea Hotel in New York City, involving an ensemble cast of some 30-35 characters.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ethan Hawke
CAST:  Uma Thurman  •  Guillermo Díaz  •  Vincent D'Onofrio  •  Kris Kristofferson
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