Gluttons for cinematic punishment

We just watched War Game/Culloden and Tsotsi.

Returned them, rented girlhood: growing up on the inside and Con Man: the true story of an Ivy league impostor.

Sometimes you want sweet, light movies. Other times, well, see above. (Not making this up: as I type, I’m hearing police sirens outside…)

What are your favorite depressing films?

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7 Responses to “Gluttons for cinematic punishment”

  1. thisisnotanlj Says:
    Saturday, February 10, 2007 at 8:12 pm. |

    wow. no one has favorite depressing movies? how about if i say “tearjerkers”, instead?

    or if i rephrase it as *best* depressing movies?

  2. saintsegar Says:
    Sunday, February 11, 2007 at 8:35 am. |

    I’m trying to think… “Mr. Death” and “Fog of War,” both Errol Morris docs, made me grind my teeth and feel less kindly toward my fellow men. “Mr Death” in particular made me realize that being naive and ignorant and clueless doesn’t excuse you from being utterly fucking evil.

    And the “Dawn of the Dead” remake, which is neither depressing as such, nor a tearjerker, nor a good film, is so cynical and nihilistic that it’s sort of fun to watch when I’ve got a hate on for humanity.

    Maybe I’m not watching enough depressing movies, maybe I’m sheltering myself too much. There’s a film coming up at the art institute’s theater next month called “The Rape of Europa” about the theft and destruction by the Nazis of Europe’s art treasures during the war that should be pretty depressing. I remember seeing a similar movies years ago, I think while I was in college, about the “entarte kunst” exhibit and seeing my favorite modern art and artists mocked and humiliated was enough to bring me to tears.

  3. kelcrocker Says:
    Sunday, February 11, 2007 at 1:48 pm. |

    I rented Tsotsi on the advice of a friend. It arrived from Netflix and we didn’t watch it for ages. When we finally found time and opened it up, the DVD was cracked! Ack! All of that wasted time…so I still haven’t seen it. Is it worth it to order it again?

    I love all kinds of movies. One of my faves is Schindler’s List, which is both depressing yet hopeful at the end. It’s also so exquisitely done. Sometimes, like with Schindler’s List and Ordinary People, it feels so good to cry at the end. Uh…you know?

  4. thisisnotanlj Says:
    Sunday, February 11, 2007 at 3:30 pm. |

    oh, yes, fog of war. that was creepy and fascinating. haven’t seen mr. death yet. if i’m still in a depressing-movie mode after the latest ones, i’ll have to check it out. rape of europa also sounds worthwhile and bleak.

  5. thisisnotanlj Says:
    Sunday, February 11, 2007 at 3:32 pm. |

    tsotsi: i think so, yes. for the lead actor’s performance, among other reasons.

  6. dirtylibrarian Says:
    Monday, February 12, 2007 at 8:36 am. |

    I love love love love Grave of the Fireflies. Last time I watched it, I wept for a full half hour afterwards. I thought Tsotsi was great, too.

  7. erce Says:
    Monday, February 12, 2007 at 12:01 pm. |

    one of the saddest movies I’ve ever seen:

    Time of the Gypsies ( http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097223/ )

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