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A Film Travelogue: Weepies

by Ainsley Hume on 2018-02-11T18:33:55-05:00 | 0 Comments

This week I decided to feature some of the movies on our IMC display, “Weepies”. With that in mind, I watched Field of Dreams [IMC DVD 796.357 F453 2004], Grave of the Fireflies [IMC DVD 741.58 G776 2012], Atonement [IMC DVD 232.3 A881 2008], and Into the Wild [IMC DVD 910.4 I61 2008]. 

Field of Dreams was what I would call a “happy” cry movie. This is because, although the main character struggles against disbelief and other obligations, the movie ultimately has a happy ending, one where he feels redeemed. While I enjoyed this movie, I wasn’t overly blown away by it. It had nice cinematography and a good cast, but didn’t seem overly exceptional. However, it was a nice break from some of the more serious dramas.

Grave of the Fireflies was my first Studio Ghibli movie, and it was an experience. The movie tells a story during the end of World War II, when American pilots were dropping bombs on Japanese towns. A brother and sister who end up losing both parents struggle to survive. It is a heartbreaking story, and the animation style it’s told in helps to simplify the experience. Yet, even though it is animated, you can’t help but empathize with the characters and with their situation. The music adds another dimension to this movie, with a recurring haunting melody that follows the characters throughout.

Atonement was a movie which I knew before watching, having read the book many years ago. I am always wary about book-to-film adaptations, but I was very impressed with this one. The end of the movie, which I had remembered being upsetting, was just as I remembered. It focuses on the idea of “what might have been”, allowing the reader (or viewer) to believe that things turn out alright, only to take it away an instant later. The director does an amazing job with the cinematography of this movie, which is split between a British country estate and war-torn scenes.

Finally, the movie Into the Wild. I have never read the book, which often makes it easier to appreciate a film in its own right. I enjoyed this movie, partly because of the theme of living for yourself is one that we all need to be reminded of. However, I also enjoyed it because of how the director overlaid some of Christopher McCandless’s journal entries text on top of the scenery of his journey. It was beautiful and profound, perfectly matching the tone of the story. 

If you are looking for a good weepy movie, come check out the IMC's DVD display--this is the final week before we switch over to a new display. As always, feel free to follow along on your own film travelogue journey at https://letterboxd.com/peterstanley/list/1001-movies-you-must-see-before-you-die/.


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