My Cinematic Traumas: 5 Unforgettable Scenes That Left Me in Tears
These movies are so different, yet absolutely stunning, and all of them manage to make you cry in their own unpredictable way.
Movies have a lot of superpowers, the most obvious being to entertain the audience. Many films serve educational purposes, but they not only try to teach us some facts about the universe, but also give us some space to learn about compassion, empathy, and other more intimate things.
Sometimes a single scene can shatter our hearts and leave a permanent mark on our emotional map. And these five cinematic moments, each from very different movies, haunted me long after the credits rolled.
1. Jojo Rabbit: Rosie's Death
In Taika Waititi 's Jojo Rabbit, Scarlett Johansson delivers an unforgettable performance as Rosie, a loving mother who will do anything to protect her son Jojo from the poisonous beliefs of the Nazi regime. But her heroic actions have devastating consequences...
The moment that broke me was when Jojo saw his mother's red shoes hanging from the gallows and realized she was dead. Jojo's reaction is pure heartbreak when he tries to tie her shoes, as she had always done for him. The sheer innocence of Jojo's grief leaves you speechless.
2. Up: Ellie and Carl’s Life Together Clip
Pixar’s Up is one of my favorite cartoons. While being a colorful and light-hearted adventure, the movie is at the same time a devastating story of true love. When we learn about its main character Carl, we learn about his life via a gut-wrenching clip, where his life with Ellie is shown in detail.
The montage is brief but powerful. There is no dialogue, just music and visuals to convey a lifetime of joy and sorrow. The simplicity and depth of this scene is what makes it so moving. It focuses on the rapid passage of time as we learn everything about the two of them, from their childhood hopes to the inevitable reality of Ellie's death. It's just too much for an animated adventure film.
3. La La Land: The Ending
La La Land is indeed a movie celebrating love, dreams, and ambition. However, it’s also a heartbreaking tale focusing on the fact that almost everything comes with a sacrifice. What could have been just another rom-com with a happy ending, ended up being a movie with a chilling message.
The story follows Mia and Sebastian, two rather ambitious young people who fell in love, only to find out that their dreams are pulling them in opposite directions. Mia becomes a successful actress, and Sebastian opens his jazz club, but their relationship falters under the weight of their individual ambitions.
The final scene shows them crossing paths years later. They share a quick, meaningful look, acknowledging the love they once had, but also the paths they've taken since. The tearful smile Mia gives Sebastian as she leaves is devastating, as it captures the harsh truth that sometimes even true love is not enough to overcome all odds.
4. Monsters, Inc.: Boo's Goodbye
Another favorite animated movie that made me cry is Monsters, Inc. This one is about the adorable monsters Mike and Sulley who work in a factory that generates power from children's screams. But eventually they realize that there's more to a relationship with a child than just scaring them.
The heart of the film is undoubtedly the touching story of Sulley and Boo, a little girl who is accidentally transported into their world. And the most devastating moment comes when Sulley has to say goodbye to her in order to protect her. The scene is painful to watch because Boo doesn't understand what's going on and Sulley does. So you end up feeling sorry for both of them, but for opposite reasons.
5. Interstellar: Murph’s Goodbye to Cooper
Christopher Nolan 's Interstellar is a sprawling sci-fi epic about space exploration, but at its core it's a story about family, time, and sacrifice. The emotional heart of the movie lies in the strained relationship between Cooper and his daughter, Murph. As Cooper sets out on a mission to save humanity, time dilation causes decades to pass on Earth while only a few years pass for him in space.
When Cooper finally returns to Earth, the world has changed, and so has Murph. The most heartbreaking moment is when Murph finally forgives Cooper, but it's too late to make up for the lost years.