Movies/Scenes Representing
Death/Grief
- Signs (2002)
- Rev. Graham Hess experiences doubt and despair after the death of his wife.
- The Shipping
News (2001)
- DVD chapter 3 - Quoyle tells Bunny that Petal is "asleep with the angels" because Quoyle himself can't confront the death. Later, after Jack's wake (DVD 17), Bunny wants to know why they can't "wake" her mother, and Quoyle tells her the truth about Petal's death.
- The Sixth Sense (1999)
- Major themes of how people handle grief and loss - Cole's loss of his father, Malcolm and Anna's losses.
- Angela's Ashes (1999)
- The death of Frank's sister, infant Mary Margaret, begins Malachy's slide into drink and Angela's slide into depression. (DVD ch 1)
- The Confession (1999)
- (DVD ch 3) Stevie's death drives Fertig to kill, as a moral/immoral act. He does what he feels he "must" and then he knows that he must suffer the consequences.
- (DVD ch 14) "We go through life hoping for one thing - that we do not come up against something we cannot put behind us. I cannot put this behind me."
- Meet Joe Black (1998)
- This movie deals with what we all will face someday and how a person should respond to the reality of his/her own death. An obvious sermon idea is that all of us have a "Joe Black" living with us everyday whether we admit it or not because we all are going to die. There is a good section which would work for a Sunday sermon example when Hopkins first meets Death is his library. (Jim Bane.)
- Waking Ned Divine
(1998)
- What an interesting thing it would be to be present at your own funeral. Jackie preaches at Ned's funeral, "If he were here now and could hear what I have to say, I'd congratulate him for being great man and thank him for being a friend."
- Everest (1998-IMAX)
- The grief, the challenge, sacrificial acts and the son Sherpa's faith are unforgettably moving. (submitted by Pamela Harvey)
- Good Will Hunting
(1997)
- Sean to Will: "You don't know about real loss. Real loss is only possible when you love something more than you love yourself."
- Deconstructing
Harry (1997)
- "Mendel Birnbaum" is visited by Death. (DVD ch 4)
- The Spitfire Grill (1996)
- Ponette (1996)
- (In french with english subtitles.) A young girl (Ponette) loses her mother in a car accident. Her father is an atheist. The girl lives with her aunt who tries to explain to her the resurection, her cousins tease her with Biblical stories (Talitah Kum). Ponette tries to cope with her grief by combining different versions of resurection which she hears from fellow students and teachers. Scene: Aunt explains to her Easter. (submitted by Sigrid Rother)
- Shadowlands (1993)
- There's a fabulous and incredibly powerful scene in Shadowlands after Debra Winger has passed away. Anthony Hopkins is sitting in the attic w/her son and they begin talking about their feelings. The boy has some powerful feelings as he shares that he doesn't believe in God anymore. Anthony Hopkins gives him permission to feel that way and the scene ends w/both of them sharing how much they miss her and end up crying together over their loss. (Jim Young)
- My Life (1993)
- My Life shows Michael Keaton making a video of his life to leave for his unborn child. He is a high-powered, ambitious, angry man who is dying of cancer and who wants to leave a legacy, but has a lot of old business to take care of, too. Making the video of his life forces him to come to terms with himself and his relationships. Illustrates the stages of dying very well. Has some scenes which provide comic relief. Suitable for older high school and up. (Ann Klonowski)
- The Fisher King (1991)
- Parry's grief over his wife's death.
- Ghost (1990)
- Steel Magnolias (1989)
- M'Lynn (Sally Fields) is burying her daughter Shelby who dies at the age of 27 years old and leaves a young child. M'Lynn, surrounded by her friends at the cemetery is enduring the crush of grief. Her friend Annelle (Daryl Hannah) tries to comfort her with the words, "Shelby is with her King now." M'Lynn's anger explodes as she shouts, "I understand that in my head, but would somebody please explain it to my heart!" Ministry is more than having theologically correct answers to our questions. We often need healing for our broken hearts more than we need answers for a questioning mind. (submitted by John Jewell, University of Dubuque Theological School)
- Da (1988)
- The movie "Da" starring Martin Sheen is a powerful, heartwarming story of a New York playwright who returns to his native Ireland to settle the estate of his deceased father. Award winning movie. (Submitted by Mike Brown)
- Forrest Gump (1987)
- Forrest mourns Jennie.
- The scene where after Bubba dies, Forrest reflects on how if he had knew Bubba was going to die, he would have said more to Bubba the last time he talked to him. (Benjy Oliver)
- Out of Africa (1985)
- Karen's grief at Denys' funeral.
- The parting scene between Karen and Farah. ("I will go ahead of you and wait for you..." parallel gospel of John, DVD ch 15)
- The Poseidon Adventure
(1972)
- "Let the dead bury their dead." Nonni leaves her dead brother Teddy in order to choose life and go on the journey. Mr Rosen must also choose to leave Mrs Rosen after she dies.
- On the Waterfront
(1954)
- See Theresa Shetler's paper, "'I?ll Be Back!' The Battle continues?On the Waterfront: Art Reflects Culture."
