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Saturday, April 20, 2024
The Observer

Movies to cry to

When you cry because a movie hits different, it’s not like your typical “mid-semester breakdown” cry; it’s a good cry. For example, recently, I watched the animated film “Encanto” not knowing what to expect. I went into the movie with little knowledge about the plot. But boy, I did not realize that I would be shedding tears through most of the film. It even had my roommate crying, and she prides herself on not shedding tears because of movies. However, “Encanto” isn’t the first movie that has made me shed a couple of tears. So, here is a list of some films that have made me cry no matter how basic it makes me look:

  • “Coco”: If you didn’t cry during this movie, you are simply numb to emotion. The storyline and music produced from this movie are just everything you want to see in a film. It takes you on an adventure through the Mexican culture and their celebration of Cinco de Mayo. The part of the movie that had me bawling was at the end of the film when Mamá Coco started singing the song that would clear the name of an estranged family member who was her father. No one thought she would remember the music, but just when Hector (the estranged family member) was about to disappear, Mamá Coco saved him by singing a song he sang to her growing up. If that doesn’t have you crying, you just aren’t human. 
  • “Forrest Gump”:This is one of my top five favorite movies of all time. You can’t help but fall in love with Forrest Gump’s southern drawl and pure kindness. This movie has something for everyone. I first watched it when I was in high school with my dad because it is one of his favorite movies. It had me crying about 30 minutes in and laughing all at the same time. In this movie, you see the main character grow up and find his way through just about every historical event from the 1970s up until the 1990s. Truly a classic. 
  • “Moana”:OK, OK. I know what you are thinking, but hear me out. Moana had me crying in the club when I first watched it. The part that got me was at the end when she splits the sea to return the heart of the ocean to Te Fiti. She walks in slow motion with very emotional music in the background towards the angry Te Fiti. When they finally meet in the middle, Moana and Te Fiti’s foreheads touch as Moana places the heart of the sea to the rightful owner. At that moment, I couldn’t hold the tears back anymore. It was the combination of music and caring moments that just sent me over the edge. 
Now, these are just the most recent movies that have made me cry upon watching them. I know it isn’t an extensive list, but I only have so much room for this inside column. So, before I end, I want to make sure you all know that it’s a cool cry when I say cry. It’s a “shedding a couple of tears” kind of cry. A “healthy cry,” some would say. Not “stress crying” or a “breakdown” type of crying. It’s just a good, old movie crying. That’s truly unique about movies; they can make you feel like you are part of the story. They put you in touch with your emotions, and for about an hour and a half, you can just forget about those homework assignments and be stress-free.

The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Observer.