The backbone of gut-wrenching movies is a heartfelt story with relatable characters that make the audience feel whole by the end of the movie. As shattering as it is to see pain vividly painted onto the television screen, audiences are able to find the rawest form of connection with characters they have never met. A similarity amongst most bittersweet movies is the theme of love and how it alters as time passes.
#5: “Up” (2009)
Disney has a way of pulling at their viewers’ heart strings. Right off the bat, the movie “Up” captures the beauty of love and how it stays youthful despite age. Going into the movie, it comes off as a light-hearted comedy; however the movie follows a touching plot about loss and moving forward. “Up” illustrates how love keeps us grounded and the rewarding ability to let go and move onto the next chapter.
#4: “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” (2012)
Coming to terms with identity, addressing past trauma and navigating where one fits into the world are all explored in the book and its movie adaptation of “The Perks of Being a Wallflower.” Charlie, a freshman in high school who just lost his best friend Michael to suicide, has to find belonging in a new environment and also find strength in himself to move forward. Relationships with others and his past lingers over him, leaving him feeling incapable of creating new and healthy connections. As a group of seniors enter his life at a football game, he works to see that his past is not who he is but rather a part of his story. The relatability of indulging in new experiences and struggling to find one’s identity connects the movie with the audience.
#3: “Forrest Gump” (1994)
Part of the beauty of stories is the part left up for interpretation. While the mystery remains why Forrest felt inclined to just keep running, the story shows the audience how moving forward from sadness looks different from person to person. Through the ups and downs of Forrest Gump’s life, he remains true to himself and continuously follows his heart (even if it is pulling him in the opposite direction). The contrast between Gump’s depiction of the world around him and the reality he is presented with holds onto the blissful perspective of ignorance.
#2: “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” (1993)
Leonardo DiCaprio perfectly captures the ignorance of the darker undertones of life as his character faces countless mental and external challenges. His older brother, portrayed by Johnny Depp, works to shield his brother from the harsh world along with balancing the responsibilities he is expected to uphold. Gilbert (Depp) is expected to care for his mentally disabled brother, Arnie, along with his overweight mother, all while paying the bills of their poorly built house. The grasp of idealistic family bonds and undertones of feeling ashamed from where one comes from illustrates the being eaten away by worries.
#1: “Beautiful Boy” (2018)
Based on the 2008 memoir written by David Sheff and Nic Sheff’s book “Tweak,” the movie follows the true story of a father’s journey and perspective into his son’s drug addiction. As David Sheff, embodied by actor Steve Carell, discovers his son’s truth and reliance on substance abuse, he has to grapple with his role in his child’s life. Sheff sees himself through the windows and mirrors of his son’s coping mechanisms; he has to bring himself to understand that he can not be the change he wishes to see in his son. The unconditional love Sheff has for his son is well conveyed through his actions and acknowledgement that support does not come from coercion but instead from understanding. Personal and true stories tie readers to the journey people have gone through and allows for an impactful narrative.
