Admittedly, I haven’t watched many war films, but as for the ones I have . . . they have permanently scarred me. It’s a hefty topic to discuss, and global disputes disturb me the most (just be happy!). However, I would like to rank at least 6 movies surrounded by no particular war based on how sad they made me. Perhaps by the next time I write another article, I will have watched more. Side note: These do not include fictional wars (such as Planet of the Apes), only ones that occurred in history. Let’s get right to it.
- Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
The common theme between these movies seems to be “the same thing is always going to happen.” BUT, this movie focused on a oft-forgotten theme of war: famine vs. family. I genuinely cried to this just yesterday, almost like a Marley & Me situation where I already knew what would come next, but the music and film-style makes the feels inevitable. Grave of the Fireflies is arguably the saddest Studio Ghibli movie as well as the most depressing WWII movie from Japan’s perspective. I think I will have to get paid to see these siblings go through such struggles again. I was a mess.
- Saving Private Ryan (1998)
I swear, the opening scene of this movie is the most realistic picture of war ever, and I wasn’t even a soldier (I think). It’s mind-boggling to me the determination of these men, fighting to protect someone they’ve never even met or seen (Ryan) in hopes that his mother doesn’t lose anymore sons. The entire movie is one catastrophic scene, never holding back on mentioning every man who falls for this country. So patriotic . . . 10/10, would suffer through again.
- The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (2008)
This is the most unrealistic movie of WWII, especially regarding the simple-mindedness of the child on this swing up above. Just kidding, but as a part of his Nazi family, I’d assume he would at least have a notion of those camps nearby. Nonetheless, I loved the relationship between the two main characters, wanting it to last forever. I think The Boy in the Striped Pajamas has an interesting take on the effects towards younger audiences and family unity. Oh boy, did I have to hold back some emotions in the classroom.
- Glory (1989)
If you know me, you’ll know that my obsession with Matthew Broderick (and Denzel Washington on a good day) stemmed from this film (and it’s still crazy to me that I haven’t watched WarGames), but let’s talk about my obsession with this movie! Glory is about the true story of Col. Robert Gould Shaw and his manning of the first all-African-American regiment: the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. Spoiler right here: In case some aren’t familiar with this history, the majority of the regiment died during the Second Battle of Fort Wagner on July 18, 1863, which included Matthew (Col. Shaw) and his crew that he had grown quite fond of. They were all thrown into the same ditch, but they were finally equal in death. Col. Shaw was killed instantly, but none of them backed down for their country in a heroic battle towards equity and shattering racial stereotypes. Very sad, but too sudden for me to bawl my eyes out. Simply unfair. Not the crying part . . . let’s not do that anymore.
- Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (2016)
While this one is particularly separated from war with horrifying eldritch beings that attack children, it is also represents the heartbreaking disasters bombs cause. The time-loop that these kids are forever trapped in also alludes to the permanent effects of damage and decay, at least in my opinion. The movie and book also parallels the Nazi persecution of Jewish persons through the elimination of peculiars. In Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, the headmistress must continuously reset the loop to escape the Nazi-led Blitzkrieg, specifically a German Luftwaffe bomb raid that completely decimated the house. As if a concept as jarring as bomber planes targeting everything and anything isn’t enough, they just had to add monsters eating people’s eyes!
- The Iron Giant (1999)
It has been forever since I watched this movie, so I’m not sure if I’m a trustworthy source to judge The Iron Giant. Rather it being fully focused on the casualties during the Cold War, the movie uses themes of paranoia and the Red Scare to fuel their hatred towards the giant that our character, Hogart, is hiding. So, the war is technically a backdrop for the story, but it still counts! There are government agents who destroy anything they cannot understand . . . still counting it.