Movies About Trauma

From Jonathan Demme, starring Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Lawrence A. Bonney, Kasi Lemmons
Rated R

The Silence of the Lambs is a 1991 psychological horror-thriller film directed by Jonathan Demme and based on Thomas Harris' novel of the same name. The film follows Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster), a young FBI trainee, as she seeks the advice of the imprisoned serial killer, Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), in order to catch another serial killer, Buffalo Bill (Ted Levine). As Clarice uses Lecter's knowledge to her advantage, she must fight her own internal demons as she attempts to gain Lecter's trust. Through their conversations, Clarice begins to understand the serial killer's motivations and delve into the depths of her own psyche. The film ultimately culminates with a climactic battle between Clarice and Buffalo Bill, as Clarice must ultimately confront her inner demons and the darkness of human nature in order to capture the serial killer.

From Lenny Abrahamson, starring Brie Larson, Jacob Tremblay, Sean Bridgers, Wendy Crewson
Rated R

Room is a 2015 drama film directed by Lenny Abrahamson, starring Brie Larson, Jacob Tremblay, and Joan Allen. The story follows a young mother and her five-year-old son, Jack, who have been held captive in a small room for Jack's entire life. As Jack's curiosity about the world beyond the walls grows, his mother must find a way to escape their confinement and give Jack the life he deserves. Room is a powerful exploration of the bond between a mother and child, and their courage and resilience in the face of adversity.

From Clint Eastwood, starring Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Kevin Bacon, Emmy Rossum
Rated R

Mystic River is a 2003 American drama film directed by Clint Eastwood and written by Brian Helgeland. It stars Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Kevin Bacon, Laurence Fishburne, Marcia Gay Harden, and Laura Linney. The film tells the story of three childhood friends—Dave Boyle (Robbins), Jimmy Markum (Penn) and Sean Devine (Bacon)—who are reunited in their small Massachusetts town after the brutal murder of Dave's daughter. The storyline focuses on the men's emotional struggles and their search for justice and redemption. The film explores themes of childhood trauma, family loyalty and revenge, and how the past continues to haunt and shape the lives of the adults decades later. The film was widely praised for its performances, direction and screenplay, and was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Penn), Best Supporting Actor (Robbins) and Best Adapted Screenplay (Helgeland). It won two Oscars, for Best Supporting Actor (Robbins) and Best Editing (Joel Cox & Gary D. Roach).

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, Michelle Williams, and Kyle Chandler. The story follows Lee Chandler, a depressed, isolated janitor living in Massachusetts. Lee is suddenly made the legal guardian of his teenage nephew Patrick after the death of his brother Joe. As Lee navigates his newfound responsibilities and attempts to come to terms with his past, he struggles to find a way to move forward and build a new life. The film explores the emotional and psychological impact of grief, trauma, and family relationships.

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

Ordinary People is a 1980 American drama directed by Robert Redford. It stars Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, Judd Hirsch, and Timothy Hutton. The film follows the story of a suburban Chicago family struggling with the death of one of their sons and the difficulties of adjusting to the aftermath. The family consists of Conrad (Hutton), the surviving son, and his parents, Calvin (Sutherland) and Beth (Moore). As the story progresses, it becomes apparent that the family is struggling to cope with their grief, and the tension between the parents becomes increasingly evident. Conrad must learn to deal with his own guilt and grief, while his parents must learn to come to terms with the past and re-establish a relationship with their son. Ultimately, the family must learn to accept and love one another despite the pain they have endured.

From Taylor Hackford, starring Jamie Foxx, Regina King, Kerry Washington, Clifton Powell
Rated PG-13

Ray is a biographical film about the life of Ray Charles, a legendary musician whose unique sound and style shaped the evolution of modern music. The film follows Ray's journey from his humble beginnings in the segregated South, where his family struggles to make ends meet and he endures the tragic loss of his brother, to his emergence as one of the most influential figures of the 20th century. Ray overcomes racism, addiction and personal tragedy to become a musical icon whose voice changed the course of popular music forever. The film stars Jamie Foxx, who won an Academy Award for his portrayal, alongside a stellar cast including Kerry Washington, Regina King, and Terrence Howard. Directed by Taylor Hackford, Ray is a portrait of resilience, determination, and the power of music.

From Sidney Lumet, starring Rod Steiger, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Brock Peters, Jaime Sánchez
Rated Approved

The Pawnbroker is a 1964 film directed by Sidney Lumet, starring Rod Steiger. It tells the story of a Jewish pawnbroker in Harlem, New York, who has been deeply scarred by his experiences in a Nazi concentration camp during World War II. After surviving the horrors of the Holocaust, he has become a bitter and solitary man, unable to find joy in life. As he goes through his daily routine of providing financial services to the community, he remains haunted by his past, unable to escape the guilt and sorrow of his experiences. Despite the attempts of a social worker to help him, he is left feeling empty and lost. Eventually, he is able to find a way to forgive himself, and in the process, an unexpected connection with the people of Harlem.

From Alan J. Pakula, starring Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, Peter MacNicol, Rita Karin
Rated R

Sophie's Choice is a 1982 drama directed by Alan J. Pakula, starring Meryl Streep and Kevin Kline. The film is set in 1947 and follows Polish immigrant Sophie (Streep) and her complicated relationship with her two suitors, Nathan (Kline) and Stingo (Peter MacNicol). The story revolves around Sophie's tragic past, which is revealed in flashbacks throughout the film. She was forced to make a "choice" during World War II when she was arrested by the Nazis and had to decide which of her two children would live and which would die. The film follows her struggles to cope with the emotional trauma of this decision as she attempts to make a new life in America. The film's climax is an emotional confrontation between Sophie and Nathan which results in a powerful emotional reckoning. Sophie's Choice received five Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actress for Streep, Best Actor for Kline, and Best Adapted Screenplay for Pakula. The film is widely considered to be one of the best films of the 1980s.

From Barry Levinson, starring Robert De Niro, Kevin Bacon, Brad Pitt, Jason Patric
Rated R

Sleepers is a 1996 American drama film directed by Barry Levinson, and starring Robert De Niro, Kevin Bacon, Brad Pitt, Dustin Hoffman, and Jason Patric. It tells the story of four teenage boys who are sent to a reform school where they are abused and tortured, and their later revenge as adults. The film begins in Hell's Kitchen, New York in the 1960s, where four boys—Santos, Michael, John, and Tommy—are childhood friends and become involved in a prank that goes wrong and results in the accidental death of an elderly man. As a result, the boys are sent to a brutal reform school where they are subjected to severe physical and psychological torture. Years later, the boys are still haunted by the events of their past. When they reunite as adults, they decide to get revenge on their former tormentors, with the help of a lawyer, Danny Snyder. Sleepers is a powerful, emotional drama that examines how people can be transformed by the choices they make, and how they can overcome even the most horrible of experiences. The film was a box office success, and received Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor (Hoffman) and Best Adapted Screenplay.

From Barry Jenkins, starring Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris, Trevante Rhodes, Alex R. Hibbert
Rated R

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

From Patty Jenkins, starring Charlize Theron, Christina Ricci, Bruce Dern, Lee Tergesen
Rated R

From Nicolas Roeg, starring Julie Christie, Donald Sutherland, Hilary Mason, Clelia Matania
Rated R

From Jonathan Kaplan, starring Kelly McGillis, Jodie Foster, Bernie Coulson, Leo Rossi
Rated R

From Alfred Hitchcock, starring Tippi Hedren, Sean Connery, Martin Gabel, Louise Latham
Rated PG

From Jean-Marc Vallée, starring Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, Gaby Hoffmann, Michiel Huisman
Rated R

From Barbra Streisand, starring Barbra Streisand, Nick Nolte, Blythe Danner, Kate Nelligan
Rated R

From Pablo Larraín, starring Natalie Portman, Peter Sarsgaard, Greta Gerwig, Billy Crudup
Rated R

From Robert M. Young, starring Farrah Fawcett, James Russo, Alfre Woodard, Diana Scarwid
Rated R