9 Movies that left us emotionally estranged by the time they ended

Movies belong to all kinds of genres. From the sci-fi and the mystery, to the thriller and the action. Another important category however, is the emotional drama, which sometimes leaves the viewers on a hopeful note and sometimes bereft the audiences of any kind of feeling. From the strong graphic sequences of Requiem for a Dream to the unending loyalty of Hachi in Hachi: A Dog’s Tale, here are 9 movies that will leave the viewers in an emotionally estranged state because of its tear-jerking plotlines.

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The Green Mile, Steel Magnolias, and other movies that will leave the viewers emotionally estranged

1. Grave of the Fireflies

Directed by Isao Takahata, this famous Japanese animated war movie is based on a semiautobiographical short story by Akiyuki Nosaka. The film is one of the most devastating looks at the fallouts of World War II and revolves around a brother and sister duo who get orphaned during the days of the Pacific War. The movie is set in 1940s Kobe, Japan and the main characters of the movie are Seita and his siter, Setsuko. The movie is a poignant and heart-wrenching watch as the siblings struggle to survive after their parents’ death in the war. The movie also underscores the Japanese principle of self-respect as Seita is sidelined by his aunt, who is supposed to take care of them, and he therefore decides to take his sister and himself away. However, the young duo does not realize that they cannot weather the extremities of life alone and when Setsuko gets sick due to malnourishment, it is a harrowing watch. The symbolism that the movie portrays with the title is also heart-breaking and as the siblings struggle to gather food and live a life without a home, the movie truly breaks the viewers’ hearts. Finally, this is one of those movies that truly creates a pit of hollowness and despair after the movie ends on a deeply tragic note.

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2. Requiem for a Dream

Starring Jennifer Connelly, Jared Leto, Ellen Burstyn, and others, this psychological drama movie is directed by Darren Aronofsky and is based on the 1978 novel by Hubert Selby Jr. The movie is a cult classic and is frequently noted as a difficult and harrowing movie to watch. The movie deals with four characters, who are all deeply affected by drug addiction. The movie explores the characters’ altered physical and emotional states as the drug consume them entirely and create a distorted perception of themselves that they cannot get out of. Emotionally jarring and graphically provocative, the movie showcases the dangerous effects of drug addiction and keeps the viewers hooked through its all-consuming visual style. The gradual decline in the mental and physical states of all the four characters is a difficult watch and one of the most devastating characters is the one played by Burstyn. The movie blurs the line between reality and delusion and takes the viewers along on a soul-wrenching and claustrophobic ride. Noted for its direction, musical score, and emotional depth, the movie is sure to leave the viewers emotional estranged and in a contemplative mood after the movie ends.

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3. The Green Mile

Based on the 1996 novel by Stephen King, this epic fantasy drama is directed by Frank Darabont and stars Tom Hanks, David Morse, Michael Clarke Duncan, and others. The movie was a critical and commercial success and revolves around a death row prison guard during the Great Depression, Paul Edgecomb (Hanks). The story takes place from the point-of-view of Paul, who begins to witness supernatural miracles after a mysterious convict called John Coffey (Duncan), arrives at the prison. While the movie is lengthy, it is superbly crafted to slowly sketch out the story. The movie raises many important themes and has social commentary on topics like racism and the prison system. While there are some light-hearted moments in the movie and the prison guard protect the convicts like family, it still is a soul-wrenching watch as Duncan’s John is wrongfully convicted and has to bear unimaginable pain. The movie also has many tender-hearted moments and the performance of Hanks and Duncan is a standout. Important scenes like the execution of Eduard—who was a humble convict—and his excruciating death, which is felt by John, is a devastating scene. This is one of those movies to leave the viewers in an emotionally hollow state because of its depictions of universal love and the cost it comes it.

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4. Life is Beautiful

Directed by Roberto Benigni and starring Benigni and Nicoletta Braschi, this Italian period comedy drama is once again, one of those movies that will leave the viewers with a pit in their stomach. The film focuses on Guido Orefice (Benigni), who is a Jewish-Italian bookshop owner. The movie is a poignant watch because it focuses on the horrors of Nazi concentration camps and when Guido and his son are taken to the camp, the father does all he can to protect his son from the horrors of the reality. As Guido begins to weave a tale of magic and imagination to keep his son shielded from the unimaginable horrors of the concentration camp, the movie truly depicts the power of love between a father and his son, even in the most despairing times. The movie is a strong statement against the horrors that were inflicted upon the Jews during World War II and the loss of innocence that many young people had to face. The juxtaposition of the terrible acts committed by the Nazis and the simplicity of a father trying to distract his son is painful to watch. The movie has many tear-jerking moments and the movie is regularly listed as one of the most emotional movies to have been created.

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5. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

Based on the novel of the same name by John Boyne, this Holocaust historical drama is directed by Mark Herman. The movie features Asa Butterfield, Vera Farmiga, and others. The movie was a critical and commercial success and is set in Nazi-occupied Poland. The movie is a tender yet emotionally draining watch as it focuses on the friendship that developes between Bruno (Butterfield), who is the son of an SS officer, and Shmuel, who lives close to his house in a concentration camp and is a Jew. The movie has many important and reflective moments the question the hate and divide between humans. For example, a private tutor is employed to teach Bruno and his sister about the Nazi propaganda and antisemitism, even though Bruno sees from his own eyes that the Jews around him help and take care of him. An important moment in the movie is when Schmuel says that he is a Jew and Bruno gets scared. It shows that even at a young age, the hatred towards Jews has been etched into the minds and hearts of children. However, what makes this movie extremely harrowing is the ending scene, where Bruno unknowingly joins his friend Schmuel, in the gas chamber, all because he does not want to leave his friend alone. The innocent friendship between the two and the power of friendship therefore leaves a lasting impact.

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6. The Bridges of Madison County

Starring Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep, this romantic drama is based on the novel of the same name by Robert James Waller. Directed by Eastwood, the movie is set in 1965 and revolves around an Italian war bride, Francesca (Streep), who lives with her husband and children on a farm in Iowa. Francesca lives a dull life as a homemaker but her life turns around when a National Geographic photojournalist, Robert (Eastwood), arrives at her home, asking for directions, and begins to photograph the historic bridges of Madison County, Iowa. The movie is emotionally heavy, which therefore leaves a feeling of estrangement and hollowness as the viewers watch the doomed love story of Francesca and Robert. While Francesca’s family is away for a trip, the two engage in a passionate love affair that sadly has no future. The movie was a critical and commercial success and the movie’s ending scenes are a harrowing watch. As Francesca and her husband wait in their car at an intersection, she sees a glimpse of Robert, who sees her as well, However, the two are bound by their circumstances in life and can do nothing else but look at each other moving farther away. A soul-wrenching movie.

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7. Call Me by Your Name

Directed by Luca Guadagnino and starring Armie Hammer, Timothee Chalamet, and others, this coming-of-age romantic drama is based on the 2007 novel by Andre Aciman. The movie is set in Italy in the 1980s and focuses on the developing relationship between a 17-year-old Elio (Chalamet) and a 24-year-old graduate Oliver (Hammer). The movie was a critical and commercial success and widened the scope for LGBTQ+ movies in the mainstream realm. The film focuses on Elio, who is a Jewish French-Italian boy, living in Northern Italy. However, during the summer, his father, a professor of archaeology, invites an older Jewish-American graduate student over. The movie has beautiful cinematography and moves smoothly along as the relationship between Elio and Oliver begins to develop and Elio falls deeply in love with Oliver. The movie has a tragic end but even during the warm and light-hearted moments of the film, there is an undercurrent of emotionality. As Elio and Oliver begin to spend more time together, the viewers are also made aware of the fact that there is no future to this relationship. Towards the end, when Oliver leaves Elio and informs about his marriage, the viewers are left in a reflective and empty state, as is Elio. The movie therefore makes one emotionally grapple with the reality of doomed relationships.

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8. Hachi: A Dog’s Tale

Starring Richard Gere and directed by Lasse Hallstrom, this American drama is a remake of the 1987 Japanese movie. The movie is inspired by the true story of an Akita dog named, Hachiko, who lived in Japan around the 1920s and 1930s. The movie is famously known for its heartbreaking ending and the undying love and loyalty of dogs. The movie is set in the American context and follows a professor, Parker Wilson (Gere), who commutes daily to Providence, Rhode Island for his job. At a railway station, Parker finds an abandoned dog, Hachi, and takes him in. Even though Hachi is untrainable, the dog sets out a routine for himself and begins to await Parker’s return at the railway station every evening. The two form a close bond and Parker takes Hachi everywhere with him. However, tragedy strikes when Parker suffers a fatal stroke and passes away while teaching. Devastatingly, Hachi still arrives at the train station and waits for his master. The movie is a piercing and tear-jerking watch as it is one of those movies that portray the extreme loyalty of dogs towards humans. One of the saddest scenes is when even after years of Parker’s death, Hachi still continues to arrive at the railway station, awaiting his owner, even though Parker’s own family has moved on.

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9. Steel Magnolias

Directed by Herbert Ross and based on a play by Robert Harling, this comedy drama features Sally Field, Dolly Parton, Julia Roberts, and others. The movie is about the tight-knit bond that a group of women share in the small town of Southern America. The movie will take its viewers by surprise as the film begins on a light-hearted note and even though it has some moments of heartache, it can never prepare the viewers for its tragic end. A cult classic, the movie underscored the power of female companionships and the strength and bond that each of the characters share in times of happiness and trouble. The movie is a slice-of-life movie that abounds with lots of joyful emotions and tender heart-aches. However, the underlying core of the movie focuses on the troubled relationship between Shelby (Roberts) and her mother M’Lynn (Fields). Even though Shelby has type 1 diabetes, she gets pregnant and ultimately dies from complications. The scene where M’Lynn cries and gives a passionate speech about her daughter after the funeral, is a gut-wrenching to watch. Even though the rest of the friends quickly come to M’Lynn’s aide, the movie ends on a somber note and would keep the viewers in a mood of contemplation.