Movies About Grief

From Denis Villeneuve, starring Lubna Azabal, Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin, Maxim Gaudette, Mustafa Kamel
Rated R

Incendies is a 2010 Canadian mystery drama directed by Denis Villeneuve. Set in an unnamed Middle Eastern country, the film follows the story of twin siblings, Jeanne and Simon Marwan, as they embark on a journey to uncover the truth about their mother's past. After their mother Nawal's death, the twins receive a letter from her detailing two tasks they must complete in order to uncover her secrets and come to terms with their heritage. The two journey to their mother’s homeland where they discover a war-torn country and a tumultuous past. They begin to unravel the mysteries of their mother’s life, discovering unexpected connections to their family story and uncovering a dark and bloody history. Incendies is a powerful exploration of the complex political and social forces at work in the Middle East, and the ways in which they shape the lives of the people living in them.

From Directors: Pete Docter, Bob Peterson, starring Edward Asner, Jordan Nagai, John Ratzenberger, Christopher Plummer
Rated PG

Up is an animated adventure film that follows the story of an elderly widower named Carl Fredricksen. After his wife, Ellie, passes away, Carl is determined to fulfill their lifelong dream of traveling to Paradise Falls, a remote South American locale they had always wanted to visit. With the help of thousands of helium balloons, Carl takes off on a journey to Paradise Falls with a young wilderness explorer stowaway named Russell. Along the way, they encounter talking dogs, colorful characters, and a sinister villain who is determined to prevent them from reaching their destination. Through the ups and downs of the adventure, Carl and Russell learn the importance of friendship and the power of believing in yourself.

From Martin McDonagh, starring Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, Caleb Landry Jones
Rated R

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri is a darkly comedic drama directed by Martin McDonagh. Written by the British-Irish playwright, the film follows Mildred Hayes (played by Frances McDormand), a grieving mother who erects three controversial billboards near her small town in Missouri, to draw attention to the unsolved murder of her daughter. The billboards create a public outcry, which leads to a heated conflict between Mildred and the town's police force, headed by Sheriff Bill Willoughby (played by Woody Harrelson). As the situation escalates, Mildred's actions not only divide the town, but also force the people of Ebbing to confront the consequences of their own actions and beliefs. The film features an ensemble cast, including Sam Rockwell, John Hawkes, and Peter Dinklage, and explores themes of grief, justice, and redemption.

From Ingmar Bergman, starring Bertil Guve, Pernilla Allwin, Kristina Adolphson, Börje Ahlstedt
Rated R

Fanny and Alexander is a Swedish historical drama film directed by Ingmar Bergman. It tells the story of two siblings, Fanny and Alexander, who are struggling to find their place in the world after their mother remarries and their lives change drastically. The film follows their lives as they experience joy, fear, sorrow, and excitement, and ultimately, find the courage to take back control of their lives. The film is noted for its rich cinematography and its strong themes of family, faith, and destiny. It won four Academy Awards, including Best Foreign Language Film, and is considered one of the greatest films of all time.

From Tim Burton, starring Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney, Billy Crudup, Jessica Lange
Rated PG-13

Big Fish is a 2003 fantasy-drama film directed by Tim Burton, starring Ewan McGregor and Albert Finney. The film follows the life of Edward Bloom, an eccentric storyteller and a restless traveler who has an air of mystery about him. Edward is shown throughout his life, from childhood to adulthood, in which he tells tall tales of his incredible adventures and the tall tales of the people he meets. Throughout his life, his son, Will, struggles to connect with Edward, trying to discern the truth from the fiction. When Edward's health begins to decline, Will embarks on a journey to find out the truth of his father's life and finally connects with him in the end. The film emphasizes the power of storytelling, the importance of family, and the journey of life.

From Yôjirô Takita, starring Masahiro Motoki, Ryôko Hirosue, Tsutomu Yamazaki, Kazuko Yoshiyuki
Rated PG-13

Departures is a 2008 Japanese drama film which follows the story of Daigo Kobayashi, a young cellist who moves back to his hometown of Sakata with his wife following the dissolution of his orchestra. After finding himself out of work, Daigo takes a job as an "encoffiner" – a funeral professional who prepares the deceased for burial and cremation. As Daigo embarks on his new career, he confronts various social stigmas surrounding death and his profession, while learning to accept his own mortality and finding new appreciation for life. With the support of his wife, his co-workers, and his newfound friends, Daigo eventually comes to terms with his job, ultimately finding a new purpose and appreciation for life in the process.

From Krzysztof Kieslowski, starring Juliette Binoche, Zbigniew Zamachowski, Julie Delpy, Benoît Régent
Rated R

Three Colors: Blue is a 1993 French-Polish drama film directed by Krzysztof Kieslowski. The film tells the story of Julie, a woman who loses her husband and child in a car accident and must face the emotional aftermath of the tragedy. In an attempt to erase the tragedy from her memory, Julie isolates herself from her past and the world around her. She attempts to break away from her former life by cutting off all ties and focusing her attention purely on music. As she struggles to come to terms with the tragedy, Julie slowly begins to rebuild her life and finds solace in her newfound freedom. In the process, she begins to rebuild her relationship with her former husband's family and rekindles her appreciation for art, music, and life.

From Kenneth Lonergan, starring Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams, Kyle Chandler, Lucas Hedges
Rated R

Manchester by the Sea is a 2016 American drama film written and directed by Kenneth Lonergan. The film stars Casey Affleck as a janitor from Manchester, Massachusetts, who is suddenly made the sole guardian of his teenage nephew after the death of his older brother. As he struggles with the burden of the new responsibility, he is forced to confront the past and his own demons. The film also stars Michelle Williams, Kyle Chandler, Lucas Hedges, and Gretchen Mol and follows the story of Affleck’s character as he deals with his brother’s death and the struggles that come with being a guardian. Along the way he learns to forgive himself and deal with his past in order to move forward.

From Directors: Don Hall, Chris Williams, starring Ryan Potter, Scott Adsit, Jamie Chung, T.J. Miller
Rated PG

Big Hero 6 is a 2014 American computer-animated superhero comedy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. Directed by Don Hall and Chris Williams, the film tells the story of fourteen-year-old robotics prodigy Hiro Hamada who, after a devastating turn of events, forms a superhero team to combat a masked villain. Along with his robot Baymax, Hiro joins forces with a reluctant group of first-time crime-fighters: Go Go Tamago, Wasabi, Honey Lemon, Fred, and Fred's childhood hero, the mysterious Yokai. With the help of his friends, Hiro must learn to harness his genius and use technology to save San Fransokyo.

From Robert Redford, starring Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, Judd Hirsch, Timothy Hutton
Rated R

Ordinary People is a 1980 American drama film directed by Robert Redford, and starring Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, Judd Hirsch, and Timothy Hutton. The film follows the lives of a family in the wake of the death of their son and brother. The film tells the story of the Jarretts, a suburban family trying to cope with the death of their oldest son, Buck. His parents, Calvin (Donald Sutherland) and Beth (Mary Tyler Moore) struggle to rebuild their lives while coping with the death of their son. They also have to deal with the fact that their surviving son, Conrad (Timothy Hutton) is suicidal and battling survivor's guilt. The film focuses on the family's journey as they try to come to terms with their grief and ultimately move forward. Along the way, Conrad works through his issues with the help of a psychiatrist, Dr. Berger (Judd Hirsch), and finds a new sense of purpose as he begins to focus on his studies. The film ends on a hopeful note, as Calvin and Beth move on from their grief and begin to repair their relationship.

From Lasse Hallström, starring Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, Juliette Lewis, Mary Steenburgen
Rated PG-13

What's Eating Gilbert Grape is a 1993 drama film directed by Lasse Hallström and starring Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, Juliette Lewis, and Mary Steenburgen. The film tells the story of Gilbert Grape (Depp) who is struggling to care for his mentally impaired brother Arnie (DiCaprio) and his morbidly obese mother (Steenburgen) in a small, depressed town in Iowa. Gilbert's life is further complicated when a mysterious young woman (Lewis) arrives and stirs up strong emotions in him. Gilbert must overcome his own sense of inadequacy and finally take control of his life. The film is a touching exploration of family dynamics, unconditional love, and ultimately, growing up.

From Hannes Holm, starring Rolf Lassgård, Bahar Pars, Filip Berg, Ida Engvoll
Rated PG-13

A Man Called Ove is a Swedish-language comedy-drama film directed by Hannes Holm. It follows the story of Ove, a grumpy and curmudgeonly 59-year-old man who recently lost his wife. Ove’s life is changed when a young family moves in next door and starts to turn his life upside down. As the story progresses, Ove learns to appreciate life and the people around him. Through his relationships with the new neighbors and other characters, Ove finds a new appreciation for life and learns to move on from his grief. In the end, Ove is able to find joy in his life again.

From Taylor Sheridan, starring Elizabeth Olsen, Jeremy Renner, Graham Greene, Kelsey Asbille
Rated R

Wind River is a 2017 American mystery-thriller film written and directed by Taylor Sheridan. Set in the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming, the film stars Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen as a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service tracker and an FBI agent, respectively, who try to solve a murder of a young Native American woman. With help from a local game tracker (Graham Greene), the two are able to unravel the mystery and bring justice to the victim's family. Along the way, they uncover a web of corruption and violence that has plagued the reservation for years. The film explores the harsh realities of life on the reservation, highlighting themes of racism, poverty, and violence. It also touches on the issue of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls, an issue that has been largely ignored by the US government. Ultimately, Wind River is a powerful, emotional story that sheds light on the forgotten and celebrates justice and hope.

From Tom McCarthy, starring Peter Dinklage, Patricia Clarkson, Bobby Cannavale, Paul Benjamin
Rated R

The Station Agent is a 2003 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Tom McCarthy. The film stars Peter Dinklage as Finbar McBride, a quiet, solitary man who lives a lonely life as an antique train enthusiast. After a tragedy in his life, Finbar inherits a disused train station in rural New Jersey and decides to take up residence there. Though he intends to keep to himself, his solitude is disrupted by the arrival of a chatty hot dog vendor (Bobby Cannavale) and an artist with a troubled past (Patricia Clarkson). As their friendship develops, the trio finds solace and healing in one another, while learning to embrace the unexpected connections of life.

From Tom Ford, starring Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, Matthew Goode, Nicholas Hoult
Rated R

A Single Man is a 2009 drama directed by Tom Ford. The film follows George Falconer (Colin Firth), a middle-aged gay professor living in 1962 Los Angeles, as he struggles to find meaning in a life without his former partner, Jim. After a suicide attempt, George embarks on a day of contemplation and reflection, ultimately deciding to embrace life and its possibilities. Along the way, he reconnects with an old friend, Charley (Julianne Moore), and is surprised to find himself drawn to a young student, Kenny (Nicholas Hoult). In the end, George finds himself renewed and ready to embrace life.

From Atom Egoyan, starring Ian Holm, Sarah Polley, Caerthan Banks, Tom McCamus
Rated R

The Sweet Hereafter is a 1997 Canadian-American drama film written and directed by Atom Egoyan, set in a small British Columbia town devastated by a school bus accident. The film follows lawyer Mitchell Stephens, who is hired by the community to bring a lawsuit against the bus company. Through a series of interviews, Stephens discovers the stories of the residents and their individual motivations for wanting to join or reject the lawsuit. Meanwhile, his own personal tragedy is slowly revealed, as the film ultimately explores the pain and loss faced by each of the characters in the wake of the accident.

From Mike Binder, starring Adam Sandler, Don Cheadle, Jada Pinkett Smith, Liv Tyler
Rated R

From William H. Macy, starring Billy Crudup, Anton Yelchin, Felicity Huffman, Selena Gomez
Rated R

From Emilio Estevez, starring Martin Sheen, Emilio Estevez, Deborah Kara Unger, Yorick van Wageningen
Rated PG-13

From Alexander Payne, starring George Clooney, Shailene Woodley, Amara Miller, Nick Krause
Rated R

From Mike Mills, starring Ewan McGregor, Christopher Plummer, Mélanie Laurent, Goran Visnjic
Rated R

From Gabor Csupo, starring Josh Hutcherson, AnnaSophia Robb, Zooey Deschanel, Robert Patrick
Rated PG

From John Cameron Mitchell, starring Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhart, Dianne Wiest, Miles Teller
Rated PG-13

From Richard LaGravenese, starring Hilary Swank, Gerard Butler, Harry Connick Jr., Lisa Kudrow
Rated PG-13

From Lasse Hallström, starring Jennifer Lopez, Robert Redford, Morgan Freeman, Josh Lucas
Rated PG-13