The Red Balloon. Get it? Never mind. Bad joke.
so you want something raw, intense AND ultimately uplifting?
intense in what way?
Red Balloon? How about Up? Ha.
Maybe intense isn’t the right word. I guess emotionally intense, or emotionally powerful might be better. Two I thought of in this category are Wings of Desire and Paris Texas. I might also include The Mirror by Tarkovsky in this… but it’s more mysterious and mystical than uplifting. The words raw and intense kind of suggest violence or emotional upheaval, but that’s not what I’m getting at. Maybe I’m asking for something thats too specific to me, I don’t know. Hope that helps.
I go with The Shawshank Redemption
Millions – Danny Boyle. for some reason it’s virtually ignored. a film for the whole family that features “Hitsville UK” – very nice.
Nuovo cinema Paradiso and and de Sica’s Miracolo a Milano.
CORY
Have you seen any of these?
Seventh Seal (Bergman)
8 1/2 (Fellini)
My Life as a Dog (Hallstrom)
Voyage To The Beginning Of The World (Oliveira)
And Life Goes On… (Kiarostami)
Late August, Early September (Assayas)
“The Shawshank Redemption” definitely.
“The Shawshank Redemption” definitely.
Shawshank Redemption
Not One Less
Wings of Desire
Cinema Paradiso
I’ve seen Seventh Seal, 8 1/2, Shawshank Redemption, and Wings of Desire. All great. I will take note of the other suggestions and dig in, I appreciate your help.
Cinema Paradiso is a pretty good example, good call.
Reprise is a must see
Dancer in the Dark is a must see.
Ikiru (Kurosawa), sad but life-affirming
Yahh
The Sacrifice
2001: A Space Odyessy
Lolita
Les Miserables
The 400 Blows
Bad Lieutenant
Fires on the Plain
Touch of Evil
Turtles can Fly
The Godfather
Blade Runner
,Ohhh
Ordet (Carl Dreyer)
I can’t believe that no one has mentioned “It’s a Wonderful Life”. My guess is that many here at the auteurs would find it a little too saccharine to be really uplifting.
Danny Boyle’s Sunshine.
Wait, how is The Sacrifice uplifting?
Moderated
Law: Spoilers— In the end of The Sacrifice (Andrei Tarkovsky), Alexander (Erland Josephson) trades in his mental bindings for literal physical bindings.. In a sense he is free, despite being taken away to a mental ward, hence The Sacrifice— so I can see where John is coming from with that post.
I see where you’re coming from Guillotine/John. The first film I thought of (for some strange reason) was One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Though there are certainly more deep films out there, Nest was tragic but more uplifting because of the tragedy.
i’m surprised it’s not already been said: “Paths of Glory,” by Stanley Kubrick. The ending is transcendent, and will stay with you for a lifetime.
PATHS OF GLORY? Uplifiting? Can you elaborate a bit? I found it one of the colossal downers of all time.
Wild nights by Cyril Collard
Scenes from a marriage
Clockwork Orange
Taxidermia
Derek Jarman’s Henry V
Canoa
Dreams
Un Chien Andalou
I find “My Dinner With Andre” to be uplifting in a peculiar way, although I’m not really sure how to explain it without sounding like a retard.
@roscoe it’s all in that final scene in the bar. it sums up all we have: hope.
Stalker (Tarkovsky)
Caro Diario (Nanni Moretti)
The Idiots (Lars von Trier)
Can’t think of any others right now, but check these out they’re wonderful.
Cory
I searched for a similar topic but only found one asking for reccomendations on lighthearted/uplifting/feel good films. I’m instead asking for reccomendations on films that are deeper, more profound, yet ultimately uplifting or life-affirming. Now, in order for it to be deep and truthful it probably must have some dark, dark stuff in it. Some films I’d throw in this category would be Elephant Man, Inland Empire, Wild Strawberries. Yes they are dark, but to me they left me feeling empowered and spiritually refreshed, which are positive things. So any ideas? I love films like Life is Beautiful, Amelie, but lately I’ve had a hinkering for something more raw and intense.