What other films besides this one to avoid when you're depressed?
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mail-2217 — 10 years ago(September 05, 2015 10:09 PM)
Never Let Me Go is another one. It seems as though all of Ishiguro's stories are DEPRESSING.
And I agree. ROTD is brutal. I tend to judge works of art based on whether I would watch/read them more than once. And frankly, few books or movies that are so punishingly negative will I put myself through that. 1984 is one. Some Kafka.
Lenny Bruce had a famous line about why he appreciated great church cathedrals so much: "The average guy lives in a beep house he doesn't want to pray in one."
And that's how I feel about movies if I want pain and suffering? I don't have to pay $10 for -that-. I can just stay home.
Besides K.I.'s stuff, I have wanted to re-watch The English Patient for a while, but I really do fear the ending.
Why? I came into this game for the action, the excitement Listen, kid, we're all in it together. -
CindyH — 10 years ago(December 14, 2015 05:14 PM)
Off the top of my head, these are the ones that make me want to slit my wrist when I'm done watching them:
*
Sophie's Choice (1982)
(this is like the ultimate no-no to watch when depressed)
*
Black Beauty (1994)
(nothing good ever happens to that horse)
*
Leaving Las Vegas (1995)
(this one though isn't really an art film)
*
Howards End (1992)
(just depressing)
On the other end of the spectrum, when depressed, you simply must see
Enchanted April (1991)
and/or
The Secret Garden (1993)
(a children's story, but great for adults too) for a happy lift.
Random Thoughts:
http://goo.gl/eXk3O -
mafrie — 10 years ago(January 30, 2016 11:14 AM)
I find this movie uplifting, rather the opposite of prevailing opinion. I rather think that most forms of negativity are dealt with in a satisfying way in this film, not in an over enthusiatic happy-dance way, but in satisfying tones nevertheless. Stevens realizes his errors in the end but he continues on in a job that he loves, and that is satisfying. Would he be happy with Mrs. Benn around? I think not, not really. Be careful what you wish for as they say. Mrs. Benn finds contentment too, realizing her satisfying family life is actually a very good life. And England too is 'happy', the old ways are reinstated, albeit in different forms, but the people have won in their struggles against an oppressive, conniving and evil foe. That each and everyone realized their past mistakes and tried to make up for them is really the best one could hope for. That is really quite satisfying.
So you see, everything is satisfactory and good at the end. -
dicmar_rot — 9 years ago(April 23, 2016 07:09 PM)
I watched "The Remains of the Day" over several days as it was too depressing to watch at one time. This also happened to me watching "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo". These movies totally pulled me in to stay with them. The stories and the people playing the characters are actors of the highest quality.
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kittyplease — 9 years ago(August 23, 2016 09:16 PM)
I don't find ROTD depressing at all. I watch this movie all or in part whenever I come across it. The whole substory of appeasement by the upper class I find fascinating. And in the end, life goes on.
Depressing movies to me? Ironweed and Barfly haven't been mentioned. Leaving Las Vegas was depressing not only for the ending, but the whole film. Pointless to me.