The most emotional film scenes
Following on from the most haunting scenes in films that we talked about last week I had a few ideas already sketched out, and then I caught a few moments of Four Weddings and a Funeral on TV last night while I was waiting for another film to come on. I managed to change channels to the quiet collapse during the wonderful Scottish wedding and then the following funeral.
That wedding scene starts to build the drama and sadness to the point of the hugely emotional speech and poem recital, perhaps one of the best selected readings I've ever heard in or out of the cinema. It's a beautiful and heart rendering moment and it touches anyone who has had someone close die, or even has someone they love so much they can't bear the thought of them dying. The moment where Matthew's (John Hannah's) voice warbles and almost breaks is the point where I feel the tug of emotion and I too struggle with my emotions.
Even now after so many viewings, that scene brought tears to my eyes. That made me think, what other scenes have I found incredibly emotional in film. What are the most emotional scenes in film that you can remember that have touched you deeply and moved you to tears?
I'm not too proud to admit I'm a softy, anything with animals getting hurt is banned viewing in the Brunton home for all family members, that even includes Orca: Killer Whale, but there are some film scenes which really do get to me time and time again.
Always:
Steven Spielberg directs Richard Dreyfuss, Holly Hunter, John Goodman and Audrey Hepburn in a beautifully written, filmed and acted movie about life and loss. One of my most favourite films of all time. Dreyfuss and Goodman play pilots who put out forest fires, one day Pete (Dreyfuss) is killed during a particularly bad blaze, and God (played by Hepburn) returns his spirit to give inspiration to another pilot. Unfortunately this pilot falls for his love, Dorinda (Hunter), and he just can't let go.
It's a beautiful tale and there are a number of moments that are incredibly touching, the ending is particularly emotional, with Dorinda flying across the moonlit lake quickly running out of fuel and Pete sitting behind her spilling his heart. Yet for me there is one scene that hits me bang on, that's after Pete has been watching the new pilot having dinner with Dorinda with the two of them flirting and falling for each other, and he's powerless to do anything. Then they begin to dance and you can feel the pain and anguish in Pete's heart, Dreyfuss delivers a stunning moment of intense emotion. Unrequited love and the pain of the person you love being someone else's, that'll hit the mark every time.
Big Fish:
Tim Burton brings us this tale of a son played by Billy Crudup who returns home to be with his dying father played by Albert Finney. As he spends time with him he revisits the absurd and wild tales his father told him as a boy and tries to find out about the man himself, struggling to fight through his fantasies and to come to terms with his own anger and resentment.
This is a story about guys and their Dad's, it's as simple as that and it's a common theme that's always going to get guys emotional. This is one of the few Burton movies that I really love because all the weirdness has its place and builds on a very real tale. The film builds the characters and your emotional connection with them so well, it really is a wonderful tale.
It's the ending that really captures me, when finally the son understands his father and the resentment passes by and gives way to understanding, respect and love in such a beautifully told way. I have to admit that my fiancée was asleep at the end of the film and I was struggling to keep my emotions in check but to no avail, at this point I exploded and was sobbing so much that she woke up with a start.
Field of Dreams:
The story of a man who hears a voice in his cornfield one day, and it simply says "if you build it, he will come". From here the wonderful story is of belief, love, respect, second chances, and fathers and sons once again. This is perhaps one of Kevin Costner's finest moments as Ray Kinsella, the man who hears the voice, and there are two wonderful performances by Burt Lancaster and James Earl Jones.
It could have been the moment when Moonlight (Lancaster) explains why he's happy he's had his shot at life, because that is truly a beautiful moment. However it's not, again it's the final scenes of the film. This is where we understand just why Ray has been through everything he has done, and for the first viewing it's quite unsuspected. The moment when Ray asks that simple American question that any kid would ask is when the heartstrings begin to get tugged.
Il Postino:
This is a stunningly beautiful tale directed by Michael Radford which tells the story of the local postman (Massimo Troisi) who meets the dissident poet Pablo Neruda (Philippe Noiret) and receives advice on poetry and how to woo the local beauty whom he has admired from afar. This he does with some amusing and lovely moments, and the bonds grow between he and Neruda as the love grows between he and Beatrice. However poetry does more than just arouse his passion for her, it arouses his passion for life and freedom.
Knowing Pablo Neruda's poetry, I am familiar with how emotional it can be. If you want to be moved by words alone you should read "Tonight I can write the saddest lines…", or better still get the soundtrack to the film and hear Andy Garcia read the poem which could make you weep on it's own.
Yet the ending of this film is extremely emotional and very bittersweet. After so much joy and discovery the ending delivers a bitter taste and some harsh realities of life, and it's for these reasons that I find it so emotional. Another film that completely captures my heart. Watch it and then listen to the true story of the production, and you'll be touched even more.
Phenomenon:
Jon Turteltaub directs John Travolta and Kyra Sedgewick in a gorgeous story of a very average man who one night is struck by a bright light from the sky and begins to become more and more intelligent. He begins to woo the woman he has always admired from afar and she begins to turn to his charms. However intelligence soon turns to obsession and compulsion, and the light which came from the sky begins to turn from a blessing to a curse.
It's a lovely story that seems to touch on many aspects of life and love, not only of others but also of the world around us. It's a great film, and you find yourself connecting with the simple character of George (Travolta) and his friend Nate (Forest Whitaker).
There are some wonderful scenes, and as the happiness and joy builds through the first half, so the growing feeling of dread grows through the second, and ultimately builds to an incredibly sad few scenes with Lace (Sedgewick) and her kids, George, and even Nate.
What's different about the emotion's I felt here is that it's not all sadness and negative feelings, but there's so much that's positive about it, and even though you may be crying you'll find yourself smiling through them. This was also true of the way I felt about Always
Okay, now I've told you mine, can you think of some of yours?
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