17 Performances so sad that you won’t be able to hold your tears

Modified Feb 09, 2025 11:34 ET

The Father | Image Source: Sony Pictures Classics

16) Aleksei Kravchenko in Come and See (1985)

Aleksei Kravchenko's performance of Florya in Come and See is a haunting image of the effects war can have on a young boy. Watching the Nazi invasion of Belarus unfold, Florya's loss of innocence can only seem pain-induced at the hands of Kravchenko. It is a very realistic display of the physical and psychological price paid during the war, particularly in scenes where Florya breaks down from what he has seen. Kravchenko's work is one of the most powerful performances in cinema and a testament to the devastating effects of violence and trauma on youth.