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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

Grave of the Fireflies (1988)

TragicEmotionalHeartbreakingIntense

In the final months of World War II, 14-year-old Seita and his sister Setsuko are orphaned when their mother is killed during an air raid in Kobe, Japan. After a falling out with their aunt, they move into an abandoned bomb shelter. With no surviving relatives and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Isao Takahata
CAST:  Tsutomu Tatsumi  •  Ayano Shiraishi  •  Yoshiko Shinohara  •  Kozo Hashida

In the final months of World War II, 14-year-old Seita and his sister Setsuko are orphaned when their mother is killed during an air raid in Kobe, Japan. After a falling out with their aunt, they move into an abandoned bomb shelter. With no surviving relatives and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Isao Takahata
CAST:  Tsutomu Tatsumi  •  Ayano Shiraishi  •  Yoshiko Shinohara  •  Kozo Hashida

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 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

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

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

The Tale (2018)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalTear-jerker

An investigation into one woman’s memory as she‘s forced to re-examine her first sexual relationship and the stories we tell ourselves in order to survive.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jennifer Fox
CAST:  Laura Dern  •  Isabelle Nélisse  •  Jason Ritter  •  Elizabeth Debicki

An investigation into one woman’s memory as she‘s forced to re-examine her first sexual relationship and the stories we tell ourselves in order to survive.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jennifer Fox
CAST:  Laura Dern  •  Isabelle Nélisse  •  Jason Ritter  •  Elizabeth Debicki

Big Boys Don’t Cry (2022)

DepressingHeartbreakingEmotionalTear-jerker

Based on true events, Paul is forced to recall his harrowing childhood growing up in a children’s home, when a police investigation into his boyhood friend’s suicide opens old wounds. As Paul struggles to shake off his past and build a relationship with Anthea, his ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Steve Crowhurst
CAST:  Michael Socha  •  Zoë Tapper  •  Mitchell Norman  •  Joshua Coombes

Based on true events, Paul is forced to recall his harrowing childhood growing up in a children’s home, when a police investigation into his boyhood friend’s suicide opens old wounds. As Paul struggles to shake off his past and build a relationship with Anthea, his ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Steve Crowhurst
CAST:  Michael Socha  •  Zoë Tapper  •  Mitchell Norman  •  Joshua Coombes

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
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