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Barefoot Gen (1983)

TragicTear-jerkerDepressing

A story about the effect of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on a boy's life and the lives of the Japanese people.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mori Masaki
CAST:  Issei Miyazaki  •  Masaki Kouda  •  Seiko Nakano  •  Takao Inoue

A story about the effect of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on a boy's life and the lives of the Japanese people.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mori Masaki
CAST:  Issei Miyazaki  •  Masaki Kouda  •  Seiko Nakano  •  Takao Inoue

Lingerie Soldier Papillon Rose (2003)

Thought provokingIntenseUpliftingTragic

Tsubomi is a savvy and horny school girl who works at a lingerie club, a gentlemen’s bar where scantily clad young women serve drinks to the patrons. She is useless at her job but is blackmailing her boss so she won’t get fired. One day she runs into a gorgeous ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shinji Tobita
CAST:  Shiho Kikuchi  •  Masahito Yabe  •  Sachiko Kojima  •  Sayaka Kinoshita

Tsubomi is a savvy and horny school girl who works at a lingerie club, a gentlemen’s bar where scantily clad young women serve drinks to the patrons. She is useless at her job but is blackmailing her boss so she won’t get fired. One day she runs into a gorgeous ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Shinji Tobita
CAST:  Shiho Kikuchi  •  Masahito Yabe  •  Sachiko Kojima  •  Sayaka Kinoshita

True Crime (1999)

Tear-jerkerThought provokingSuspensefulTragic

Boozer, skirt chaser, careless father. You could create your own list of reporter Steve Everett's faults but there's no time. A San Quentin Death Row prisoner is slated to die at midnight – a man Everett has suddenly realized is innocent.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Clint Eastwood
CAST:  Clint Eastwood  •  Isaiah Washington  •  LisaGay Hamilton  •  Diane Venora

Boozer, skirt chaser, careless father. You could create your own list of reporter Steve Everett's faults but there's no time. A San Quentin Death Row prisoner is slated to die at midnight – a man Everett has suddenly realized is innocent.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Clint Eastwood
CAST:  Clint Eastwood  •  Isaiah Washington  •  LisaGay Hamilton  •  Diane Venora

Love in the Time of Money (2002)

Thought provokingIntenseRomanticTragic

New York serves as a backdrop for a cast of characters in search of love, lust or lucre including a woman who makes awkward moves on the man renovating her SoHo loft, an embezzler, a sleazy artist and a phone psychic.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Mattei
CAST:  Vera Farmiga  •  Domenick Lombardozzi  •  Jill Hennessy  •  Malcolm Gets

New York serves as a backdrop for a cast of characters in search of love, lust or lucre including a woman who makes awkward moves on the man renovating her SoHo loft, an embezzler, a sleazy artist and a phone psychic.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Peter Mattei
CAST:  Vera Farmiga  •  Domenick Lombardozzi  •  Jill Hennessy  •  Malcolm Gets

Monster's Ball (2001)

Thought provokingRomanticEmotionalTear-jerker

A prison guard begins a tentative romance with the unsuspecting widow of a man whose execution he presided over.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Marc Forster
CAST:  Halle Berry  •  Billy Bob Thornton  •  Heath Ledger  •  Sean Combs

A prison guard begins a tentative romance with the unsuspecting widow of a man whose execution he presided over.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Marc Forster
CAST:  Halle Berry  •  Billy Bob Thornton  •  Heath Ledger  •  Sean Combs

Mary Magdalene (2018)

Thought provokingIntenseGrippingTragic

In the first century, free-spirited Mary Magdalene flees the marriage her family has arranged for her, finding refuge and a sense of purpose in a radical new movement led by the charismatic, rabble-rousing preacher named Jesus.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Garth Davis
CAST:  Rooney Mara  •  Joaquin Phoenix  •  Chiwetel Ejiofor  •  Ariane Labed

In the first century, free-spirited Mary Magdalene flees the marriage her family has arranged for her, finding refuge and a sense of purpose in a radical new movement led by the charismatic, rabble-rousing preacher named Jesus.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Garth Davis
CAST:  Rooney Mara  •  Joaquin Phoenix  •  Chiwetel Ejiofor  •  Ariane Labed

Nomadland (2021)

Thought provokingIntenseGrippingTragic

A woman in her sixties embarks on a journey through the western United States after losing everything in the Great Recession, living as a van-dwelling modern-day nomad.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Chloé Zhao
CAST:  Frances McDormand  •  David Strathairn  •  Linda May  •  Bob Wells

A woman in her sixties embarks on a journey through the western United States after losing everything in the Great Recession, living as a van-dwelling modern-day nomad.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Chloé Zhao
CAST:  Frances McDormand  •  David Strathairn  •  Linda May  •  Bob Wells

Sicko (2007)

Thought provokingFunnyEnjoyableReal

Sicko is a Michael Moore documentary about the corrupt health care system in The United States who's main goal is to make profit even if it means losing people’s lives. "The more people you deny health insurance the more money we make" is the business model for ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Moore
CAST:  Michael Moore  •  George W. Bush  •  Bill Clinton  •  Hillary Clinton

Sicko is a Michael Moore documentary about the corrupt health care system in The United States who's main goal is to make profit even if it means losing people’s lives. "The more people you deny health insurance the more money we make" is the business model for ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Michael Moore
CAST:  Michael Moore  •  George W. Bush  •  Bill Clinton  •  Hillary Clinton

Personal Effects (2009)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalRomantic

Walter is a rising star in the NCAA wrestling world until his life is ripped apart by the brutal murder of his sister. Returning home to console his mother Gloria he seeks vengeance on the man who is accused of the crime. A chance meeting with a beautiful mature ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Hollander
CAST:  Michelle Pfeiffer  •  Ashton Kutcher  •  Kathy Bates  •  Spencer Hudson

Walter is a rising star in the NCAA wrestling world until his life is ripped apart by the brutal murder of his sister. Returning home to console his mother Gloria he seeks vengeance on the man who is accused of the crime. A chance meeting with a beautiful mature ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  David Hollander
CAST:  Michelle Pfeiffer  •  Ashton Kutcher  •  Kathy Bates  •  Spencer Hudson

Nowhere Boy (2009)

CharmingEmotionalThought provokingDramatic

The drama tells the story of John Lennon's teenage years in Liverpool and the start of his journey to becoming a successful musician. The story also examines the impact on his early life and personality of the two dominant females in his childhood.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sam Taylor-Johnson
CAST:  Aaron Taylor-Johnson  •  Kristin Scott Thomas  •  David Morrissey  •  Anne-Marie Duff

The drama tells the story of John Lennon's teenage years in Liverpool and the start of his journey to becoming a successful musician. The story also examines the impact on his early life and personality of the two dominant females in his childhood.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Sam Taylor-Johnson
CAST:  Aaron Taylor-Johnson  •  Kristin Scott Thomas  •  David Morrissey  •  Anne-Marie Duff

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

The Zero Theorem (2013)

TragicBrilliantWeirdDepressing

A computer hacker's goal to discover the reason for human existence continually finds his work interrupted thanks to the Management; this time, they send a teenager and lusty love interest to distract him.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Terry Gilliam
CAST:  Christoph Waltz  •  David Thewlis  •  Mélanie Thierry  •  Lucas Hedges

A computer hacker's goal to discover the reason for human existence continually finds his work interrupted thanks to the Management; this time, they send a teenager and lusty love interest to distract him.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Terry Gilliam
CAST:  Christoph Waltz  •  David Thewlis  •  Mélanie Thierry  •  Lucas Hedges

Light It Up (1999)

DepressingHeartbreakingSuspensefulEmotional

On a winter day in a southside Queens high school, events collide and six students are suddenly in an armed standoff with the NYPD. At the school, classrooms freeze, teachers come and go, resources are scant.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Craig Bolotin
CAST:  Usher  •  Forest Whitaker  •  Rosario Dawson  •  Robert Ri'chard

On a winter day in a southside Queens high school, events collide and six students are suddenly in an armed standoff with the NYPD. At the school, classrooms freeze, teachers come and go, resources are scant.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Craig Bolotin
CAST:  Usher  •  Forest Whitaker  •  Rosario Dawson  •  Robert Ri'chard

Oslo, August 31st (2011)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalTear-jerker

One day in the life of Anders, a young recovering drug addict, who takes a brief leave from his treatment center to interview for a job and catch up with old friends in Oslo.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joachim Trier
CAST:  Anders Danielsen Lie  •  Hans Olav Brenner  •  Ingrid Olava  •  Tone Beate Mostraum

One day in the life of Anders, a young recovering drug addict, who takes a brief leave from his treatment center to interview for a job and catch up with old friends in Oslo.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joachim Trier
CAST:  Anders Danielsen Lie  •  Hans Olav Brenner  •  Ingrid Olava  •  Tone Beate Mostraum

The Ballad of Jack and Rose (2005)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalTear-jerker

Jack Slavin is an environmentalist with a heart condition who lives with his daughter, Rose, on an isolated island. While Jack fights against developers who wish to build in the area, he also craves more contact with other people. When he invites his girlfriend, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rebecca Miller
CAST:  Daniel Day-Lewis  •  Camilla Belle  •  Catherine Keener  •  Ryan McDonald

Jack Slavin is an environmentalist with a heart condition who lives with his daughter, Rose, on an isolated island. While Jack fights against developers who wish to build in the area, he also craves more contact with other people. When he invites his girlfriend, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rebecca Miller
CAST:  Daniel Day-Lewis  •  Camilla Belle  •  Catherine Keener  •  Ryan McDonald

The Hanging Garden (1997)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalTear-jerker

William, a once obese and troubled teen, goes back to his family's home after being gone, without word, for ten years and finds it (and his family) haunted with his past. He had moved to the city and become a fit, well-adjusted gay man, but during his visit home, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Thom Fitzgerald
CAST:  Ian Parsons  •  Peter MacNeill  •  Chris Leavins  •  Kerry Fox

William, a once obese and troubled teen, goes back to his family's home after being gone, without word, for ten years and finds it (and his family) haunted with his past. He had moved to the city and become a fit, well-adjusted gay man, but during his visit home, ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Thom Fitzgerald
CAST:  Ian Parsons  •  Peter MacNeill  •  Chris Leavins  •  Kerry Fox

1985 (2018)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalTear-jerker

Having been gone for three years, closeted advertising executive Adrian returns to his Texas hometown and struggles to reveal his dire circumstances to his conservative family.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yen Tan
CAST:  Cory Michael Smith  •  Virginia Madsen  •  Michael Chiklis  •  Jamie Chung

Having been gone for three years, closeted advertising executive Adrian returns to his Texas hometown and struggles to reveal his dire circumstances to his conservative family.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Yen Tan
CAST:  Cory Michael Smith  •  Virginia Madsen  •  Michael Chiklis  •  Jamie Chung

Hillbilly Elegy (2020)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalTear-jerker

An urgent phone call pulls a Yale Law student back to his Ohio hometown, where he reflects on three generations of family history and his own future.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ron Howard
CAST:  Amy Adams  •  Glenn Close  •  Haley Bennett  •  Freida Pinto

An urgent phone call pulls a Yale Law student back to his Ohio hometown, where he reflects on three generations of family history and his own future.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Ron Howard
CAST:  Amy Adams  •  Glenn Close  •  Haley Bennett  •  Freida Pinto

Nine Lives (2005)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalThought provoking

Captives of the very relationships that define and sustain them, nine women resiliently meet the travails and disappointments of life.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rodrigo García
CAST:  Jason Isaacs  •  Robin Wright  •  Amy Brenneman  •  Elpidia Carrillo

Captives of the very relationships that define and sustain them, nine women resiliently meet the travails and disappointments of life.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rodrigo García
CAST:  Jason Isaacs  •  Robin Wright  •  Amy Brenneman  •  Elpidia Carrillo

The Safety of Objects (2002)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalThought provoking

In a suburban landscape, the lives of several families interlace with loss, despair and personal crisis. Esther Gold has lost focus on all but caring for her comatose son, Paul, and neglects her daughter and husband. Lawyer Jim Train is devoted to his career, not ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rose Troche
CAST:  Glenn Close  •  Dermot Mulroney  •  Patricia Clarkson  •  Jessica Campbell

In a suburban landscape, the lives of several families interlace with loss, despair and personal crisis. Esther Gold has lost focus on all but caring for her comatose son, Paul, and neglects her daughter and husband. Lawyer Jim Train is devoted to his career, not ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Rose Troche
CAST:  Glenn Close  •  Dermot Mulroney  •  Patricia Clarkson  •  Jessica Campbell
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