# Movies you'll probably never see because they're too depressing **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 2, 2004, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youll-probably-never-see-because-theyre-too-depressing/232129 "2004-03-02T16:57:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2004, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youll-probably-never-see-because-theyre-too-depressing/232129/1 "2004-03-02T16:57:52Z")
Cartooniverse and gooti stated in [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=242705) they’ll never see _Schindler’s List_. I assume because the subject matter is too depressing, to put it mildly\*. I thought I was the only one! I’ve watched many, many documentaries about The Holocaust, the climate in Germany leading up to the implementation of The Final Solution, the ghettos in Poland, etc. It takes me a couple of days to recover from watching them and I’ve decided I probably won’t watch anymore, at least not anytime soon. Here is my partial list of movies I’ll probably never see because the subject matter is too depressing to me: _Schindler’s List_ _Rosewood_ _Amistad_ _The Grey Zone_ _Roots_ _The Pianist_ _Life is Beautiful_ _Imitation of Life_ _Mississipi Burning_ I’m well aware I’m missing out on some of the finest pieces of cinema of the twentieth and twenty-first century and someday maybe I will watch them. I do not foresee that day, however, being in the near future. [sub]\*If my assumption is incorrect, please forgive me.[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![ThatGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e5b9ba/32.png) [@ThatGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThatGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2004, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youll-probably-never-see-because-theyre-too-depressing/232129/2 "2004-03-02T17:54:16Z")
I came to much the same conclusion last week while watching that jesus movie…I have seen so many depressing films/documentaries…I think I’m done with them more or less, i have learned all i feel i need to. I also never saw Shindler’s list and don’t feel the need to, even with its release on DVD this month (making in finally accesable to me since i don’t own a VCR). I CAN tell you what movies i don’t plan on seeing a second time Sophie’s Choice The Passion of The Christ The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (Not ‘historical’ or ‘realistic’ some may say, still it’s a lot for me to stomach) Pretty much any documentary on the death camps of WW2 ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2004, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youll-probably-never-see-because-theyre-too-depressing/232129/3 "2004-03-02T18:06:07Z")
Two that have come out in the past couple of years that look too depressing for me: **In the Bedroom** **House of Sand and Fog** ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2004, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youll-probably-never-see-because-theyre-too-depressing/232129/4 "2004-03-02T18:15:17Z")
_Shoah_ is the most famed documentary on the Holocaust. It’s nine hours long, so it was being shown in two parts over two days. After seeing the first part I absolutely could not force myself to watch the second. I would watch all those other movies together in a marathon before watching _Shoah_ again. ---
**Author:** ![Wumpus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8c91f0/32.png) [@Wumpus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wumpus)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2004, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youll-probably-never-see-because-theyre-too-depressing/232129/5 "2004-03-02T18:50:30Z")
I haven’t been able to bring myself to go see Caputuring the Friedmans, despite its glowing reviews. I also skipped Schindler’s List on its intitial release, but will be finally seeing it when it hits DVD. I’m skipping The Passion for a more pragmatic reason–I already read the book, and the critics reckon the book was better. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2004, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youll-probably-never-see-because-theyre-too-depressing/232129/6 "2004-03-02T18:55:46Z")
**The Grave of the Fireflies**. Everything I’ve read about this movie makes me think I’ll be suicidal by the end. I’m all for satisfyingly depressing movies (like **Wings of the Dove** – the ending is perfect and feels right), but not for movies that make you wish you could rewrite them entirely and erase the misery from your brain. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2004, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youll-probably-never-see-because-theyre-too-depressing/232129/7 "2004-03-02T18:58:05Z")
Being the father of a beautiful little girl, I’m really having to prep myself for **Mystic River**. That one is going to be tough beyond belief. I never did see **The Last Temptation Of Christ** for much the same reason others have now about **The Passion** and I’ve never seen **Kramer vs Kramer** because I didn’t want to see a sad kid and parents fighting. Just not my cup of tea. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2004, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youll-probably-never-see-because-theyre-too-depressing/232129/8 "2004-03-02T19:06:38Z")
Wow. This \*thread \* depresses me. I personally think it behoove every member of human society to force themselves to watch WWI concentration camp documentaries. If all you’ve seen is _Schindler’s List_, then you have a candy-coated view of something that should be shown in all its depths of depravity. What’s going on in Africa, and the atrocities of post-Soviet Eastern Europe, these show that we’re capable of forgetting our history and repeating our mistakes. (We in the universal sense, though we as Americans are not nearly as outraged at these atrocities as we should be.) \*Imitation of Life \* may be a tearjerker, but it’s not depressing. It is, ultimately, life-assuring. Although having seen both \*In the Bedroom \* and _House of Sand and Fog_, I’ve kinda promised myself never again to see a movie based on and Andre Dubus story. Though I daresay, if the next one looks worthwhile, I’m likely to break my vow. Many of the titles mentioned in the above posts are depressing because they’re _true_. I don’t think it’s very smart to go through life with unrealistic expectations of the goodness of the world. I think an understanding of human history–the good and the bad alike–is necessary to someone who wants to see and think clearly. ---
**Author:** ![Mal\_Adroit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df788c/32.png) [@Mal\_Adroit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mal_Adroit)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2004, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youll-probably-never-see-because-theyre-too-depressing/232129/9 "2004-03-02T19:12:29Z")
21 Grams. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2004, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youll-probably-never-see-because-theyre-too-depressing/232129/10 "2004-03-02T19:13:27Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > Wow. This \*thread \* depresses me. > > I personally think it behoove every member of human society to force themselves to watch WWI concentration camp documentaries. [Bastardly nitpick] You may have a little difficulty _finding_ “WWI concentration camp documentaries”. [/Bastardly nitpick] 😃 ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2004, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youll-probably-never-see-because-theyre-too-depressing/232129/11 "2004-03-02T19:24:05Z")
Don’t let the subject matter fool you: **The Pianist** is far from a depressing movie. The ending certainly is cheerful. And **Life is Beautiful** isn’t depressing in the least (not even the ending, ultimately). I saw **House of Sand and Fog** last night and would agree it is tragic, though it is not what the ads and promos indicate it is (which indicate Ben Kingsley is something of a bad guy; he’s actually the most admirable one in the film). I don’t mind “depressing” films; tragedy can be very powerful and a great movie experience. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2004, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youll-probably-never-see-because-theyre-too-depressing/232129/12 "2004-03-02T19:25:37Z")
**Requiem for a Dream** is right there. A bit too much from what I’ve heard. ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2004, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youll-probably-never-see-because-theyre-too-depressing/232129/13 "2004-03-02T19:41:57Z")
Try as I might, I’ve never been able to watch “Philadelphia.” My brother died of AIDS in 1990 and it just still hits way too close to home. I was able to make it through 95% of “Angels in America,” but parts of that were just so over the top that it lessened the blow somewhat. ---
**Author:** ![Vezer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b38774/32.png) [@Vezer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vezer)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2004, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youll-probably-never-see-because-theyre-too-depressing/232129/14 "2004-03-02T19:46:47Z")
I was drowned with Holocaust footage in Jr. High. I understand what happened and how horrible it is, but I don’t want to ever see another documentary or movie on it. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2004, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youll-probably-never-see-because-theyre-too-depressing/232129/15 "2004-03-02T19:55:04Z")
Movies I wish I _hadn’t_ watched (because they were so damn depressing): Breaking the Waves Requiem for a Dream Dancer in the Dark I don’t mind a dark film if there is some sort of redemption in it, something life-affirming, but these movies just make you want to stick your head in an oven. What’s the point of making a movie like that? ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2004, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youll-probably-never-see-because-theyre-too-depressing/232129/16 "2004-03-02T20:00:57Z")
I’d like to add _Black Hawk Down_ and _Tears of the Sun_ to my list. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2004, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youll-probably-never-see-because-theyre-too-depressing/232129/17 "2004-03-02T20:45:59Z")
A friend loaned me _Grave of the Fireflies_, and I tried to watch it, but the first ten minutes were so depressing that I wanted to go hang myself. I turned it off, returned it to the friend, and said “Thanks, but no thanks.” ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2004, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youll-probably-never-see-because-theyre-too-depressing/232129/18 "2004-03-02T20:54:08Z")
Some people in this thread say they don’t feel the need to learn anything more. I don’t think it’s about learning…it’s about _feeling_. In a harsh, violent world such as ours, I need to see painfully depressing things to reaffirm that I can still feel empathy and sadness. I need to know that I’m not so conditioned that I become emotionless. I _want_ to be upset at life’s injustices. Besides, as someone else said, many of these movies are actually uplifting (if you can get through the sadness…Schindler’s List being one of them). ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2004, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youll-probably-never-see-because-theyre-too-depressing/232129/19 "2004-03-02T21:24:44Z")
I think we have to watch _Schindler’s List_ for the same thing I have the French brothers documentary on 9/11 on tape…we need to watch such things, every once in a while, to remember. That said, I will never watch _American Beaury_ again. That was a depressing waste of my time. How it won Best Picture is beyond me. ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2004, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youll-probably-never-see-because-theyre-too-depressing/232129/20 "2004-03-02T21:28:28Z")
\*The English Patient \* - I’ve heard it’s sappy and depressing, and that’s enough for me. _Erasurehead_ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-youll-probably-never-see-because-theyre-too-depressing/232129.md?page=2)