Shubhabrata Dutta
There is something so cathartic about having a good cry. Tragedy is one of the most powerful emotions a human being can feel – it is no wonder Greek playwrights used it as an effective storytelling tool. These movies highlight the deepest vulnerabilities, be it irony, grief, a fall from pride, or complicated relationships. However, the nuances of storytelling have evolved over the centuries, and cinema is open to exploring a range of genres. So, if you want to watch some heartbreaking dramas, we have compiled a list of Hulu films you might like!
15. The Last Song (2010)
While Julie Anne Robinson’s feature directorial debut ‘The Last Song’ is a teen romance on its face, there is a sad subplot that adds to the overall melancholy. Based on Nicholas Sparks’ 2009 novel, the film follows Veronica “Ronnie” Miller (Miley Cyrus), who, along with her brother, arrives at a beach town to spend summer with their father, Steve Miller (Greg Kinnear). Ronnie doesn’t like him other than for his love for music which she shares with him. The catch? Steve has terminal cancer. With the little time she has left with her father, will Ronnie be able to reconcile with him? She does have Will Blakelee (Liam Hemsworth), a local guy, to help her with that. You can watch the film here.
14. The Ultimate Playlist of Noise (2021)
How many sounds do you need to hear before you can afford to go deaf? This is the question that takes forward the plot of ‘The Ultimate Playlist of Noise.’ Directed by Bennett Lasseter, this film follows high school senior Marcus Lund (Keean Johnson), who loves music and sound in general. However, disaster strikes hardest when he is diagnosed with a tumor that will take his hearing away. Lund thus decides to make a playlist of 50 sounds, aka “noise,” and sets off on a cross-country trip for the same. His experiences along the way make for the rest of this moving film. You can stream it here.
13. Three Identical Strangers (2018)
Triplet brothers who were separated at birth are brought face to face by life itself. Is this what they mean when they say life is stranger than fiction? Definitely. Directed by Tim Wardle, ‘Three Identical Strangers’ is a documentary film that showcases a story from New York in 1980, showing how three strangers, Robert Shafran, Eddy Galland, and David Kellman, found out that they were identical triplets at the age of nineteen. To this day, the reason for their separation at birth is not known, but all that is known is the result of the digging by the respective parents, who weren’t told that their adopted kids were triplets by adoption agency Louise Wise and by the boys themselves. But beneath all this lies the saddening truth of people being lied to about their kids. You can watch the movie here.
12. The Secret Life of Bees (2008)
Adapted from the 2001 novel by Sue Monk Kidd, ‘The Secret Life of Bees’ is directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood. It is set in 1960s South Carolina and follows 14-year-old Lily Owens (Dakota Fanning), who runs from home with her caregiver, Rosaleen (Jennifer Hudson), to escape a dark past that involves her late mother. The two ladies arrive at Tiburon, South Carolina, where the Boatwright sisters take them. The eldest among them, August Boatwright (Queen Latifah), owns ‘Black Madonna Honey,’ whose honey jar is one of the mementos Lily has of her mother. How the sisters help Lily know about beekeeping and open her up to a new world full of love and care is what we find out in this charming drama. You can watch ‘The Secret Life of Bees’ here.
11. A Walk to Remember (2002)
A cult classic sad romance that, for many, is the best Nicholas-Sparks-novel adaptation, ‘A Walk to Remember’ is directed by Adam Shankman. It centers on two teenagers, the meek Jamie Sullivan (Mandy Moore) and the rebellious Landon Carter (Shane West), whom fate brings together in a most unexpected manner.
As love blooms, they find themselves unable to stay away from each other. However, a painful truth forms a gorge between them, and only one of them can cross over. A poignant tale of love and acceptance, ‘A Walk to Remember’ is a must-watch that is also reminiscent of the early 2000s. You can stream it here.
10. Minding the Gap (2018)
Directed by Bing Liu, ‘Minding the Gap’ is a documentary film that chronicles his experiences of growing up in Rockford, Illinois. Set against the backdrop of skateboard culture, Liu, along with his friends Keire Johnson and Zack Mulligan, re-examine their formative years. Through this documentary, the director tries to establish a link between an individual’s upbringing and understanding of masculinity.
While life circumstances caused the three friends to part ways, what remains common to their respective journeys is that they saw abuse at home growing up. Thus, the Academy Award-nominated documentary explores hard-hitting themes with nuance and sensitivity. Are you keen on watching the film? You can do so right here!
9. The United States vs. Billie Holiday (2021)
The world as we know it today is a result of the tireless efforts and sacrifices that people before us have made. Based on the book ‘Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs,’ the biographical drama film puts the spotlight on the life of singer Billie Holiday. The film particularly underlines the final years of her life and how she found herself at the center of the War on Drugs. However, one of her most significant contributions to society is her song “Strange Fruit,” which became a call to action against the lynching of black people; this sequence is documented in the film.
However, the fact that most of the events depicted in ‘The United States vs. Billie Holiday’ actually happened in real life makes the narrative more powerful. The film uses the song at some pivotal points in the storyline, further enhancing the heartbreaking moments in the movie. Fortunately, the drama film is a part of Hulu’s streaming library, and you can watch it here.
8. Perfect Days (2023)
A Japan-Germany co-production, ‘Perfect Days,’ illuminates the daily life of Hirayama (Kōji Yakusho), a toilet cleaner living in Tokyo. Directed by Wim Wenders, the film is a poignant slice-of-life tale exploring the moments of happiness, sadness, and comfort that come with Hirayama’s ritualized lifestyle. Yakusho’s performance earned him the Best Actor award at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. The film competed for the Palme d’Or and won the Prize of the Ecumenical Jury as well. ‘Perfect Days’ successfully teaches us to look at life from a new and surprisingly better angle if only we can afford it. The film can be streamed here.
7. Sundown (2021)
Starring Tim Roth, Charlotte Gainsbourg, and Iazua Larios, Michel Franco’s ‘Sundown’ is a twisted drama that will be perceived differently by every viewer. Showcasing the absurd uncertainty of life and how sad and scary it is, the film follows a man named Neil Bennett (Roth), who decides to stay back and continue his vacation in Mexico even after learning that his mother has passed away in London.
As days pass, new incidents occur, each adding a new layer to the existential crisis that Neil clearly is in despite his wealthy background. With less words and more actions and emotions, ‘Sundown’ is an inward-looking film that everyone needs to watch. It can be streamed here.
6. Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)
Painting a portrait takes a lot more than just looking at the subject and putting it on your canvas using a paintbrush. And the extent to which things can go for an artist making a portrait is showcased in ‘Portrait of a Lady on Fire’ in the most intimate manner. Set in 18th France in 1770, the film tells the story of Marianne, a painter who has been brought in to make a wedding portrait of Héloïse, who is soon to be married off, although she is reluctant. To ensure that she doesn’t find out, Marianne has to spend time with her during the day, observing her carefully and then secretly painting her during the night. In the process, the two grow closer to each other, separated by one secret that finally takes the shape of a devastating yet beautiful climax. You can check out the film here.
5. The Worst Person in the World (2021)
While this film inclines more toward exploring life’s mundane uncertainty, Renate Reinsve’s brilliant portrayal of the protagonist, Julie, as she navigates her “modern love” journey makes it a heartbreaking film in all its glory. We follow Julie through her happiness, sadness, and heartbreak as she shifts from her late 20s to 30s, underscored by a conflict of freedom and imprisonment. A deeply personal film directed by Joachim Trier, ‘The Worst Person in the World’ is a true revelation of our position in this world today: alone and waiting for something to happen while trying to make do with what we have. You can watch the film here.
4. On the Count of Three (2022)
A jet-black comedy that is terrifyingly sad, ‘On the Count of Three’ follows two friends, Val (Carmichael) and Kevin (Christopher Abbott), who have decided to kill themselves together. It is their last day alive, and they are wondering what they should do before ending their lives. Telling you what they do would be to ruin the film but we can tell you that it’s all emotionally heavy. If you can handle dark stuff, you can watch this Jerrod Carmichael directorial here.
3. A Man Called Otto (2022)
Marc Forster’s ‘A Man Called Otto’ tells the poignant tale of a lonely widower struggling with his emotional demons. Otto Anderson (Tom Hanks) has been contemplating death for a while but the arrival of his new neighbors seems to be life’s way of letting him know that all is not lost. However, he is a tough nut to crack, and this makes it tough for the neighbors to get him out of his wretched shell. Hanks does full justice to his role, and by the end of the film, he leaves us with a smile garnished by a handful of tears. A remake of the Swedish film ‘A Man Called Ove,’ ‘A Man Called Otto’ is a must-watch. You can stream it here.
2. Flee (2021)
Animation is cinema. It is not a genre for kids; it’s a medium. This is what Guillermo del Toro stated when he and his team won the award for Best Animated Motion Picture at the 2023 Golden Globe Awards for ‘Pinocchio.’ ‘Flee’ will make you realize del Toro’s statement. Directed by Jonas Poher Rasmussen, it is a Danish animated film that brings together animation and actual archival footage to showcase the life of Amin Nawabi, who fled Afghanistan and sought asylum in Denmark. His past, laced with the tragic accurate depiction of a war-struck Afghanistan, as well as his personal emotional experiences, prove the dual nature of humanity. It would be wrong to tell you what happens at the end as it would ruin the experience, but we can tell you that the film tests our endurance and hope. You may watch ‘Flee’ here.
1. Nomadland (2021)
From highly acclaimed director Chloé Zhao, ‘Nomadland’ is a reflective film based on the nonfiction book titled ‘Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century.’ The movie features Frances McDormand in the lead role as Fern, a woman who loses everything, including her husband and job. Therefore, she makes the life-changing decision to sell all her belongings and travel around in her van as a nomad.
Fern comes across several people in her journey who add a new meaning to her life. Although the narrative establishes that Fern is on a path to being at peace with herself, the process is punctuated with several painful moments. Frances McDormand delivered one of her career-best performances and rightfully received the Best Actress Oscar that year for it. You can stream the film right here.
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