Death in Cinema: Exploring Life, Death, and Grief on the Big Screen
Whether it’s in the form of weepy romantic dramas, a sudden twist of fate in action movies, or subtle nods in children’s films, death and dying on the big screen have been portrayed in countless ways and in numerous different genres over the years.
From Academy Award-winning classics to lesser-known titles, there are countless portrayals of death in different film genres. Whether the focus lies specifically on death and dying of an individual character, the effects it has on those left behind, or a combination of the two, films about death and grief can offer a cathartic experience.
Comfort may be found in seeing an on-screen character share a similar experience, or it may just be a useful way of letting out those emotions and having a good cry. In addition, exploring end of life stories through films can teach us important life lessons and be a useful way of kickstarting often uncomfortable conversations. Movies are a moyenne through which to destigmatise death and dying.
Welcome to the Part of Life Movie Library:
The Fault in Our Stars (2014)
“Funerals, I've decided, are not for the dead. They are for the living.”
Based on the best-selling 2012 novel, by John Green, The Fault in Our Stars centres on Hazel and Gus, two teens who meet at a cancer support group. While Hazel is depressed knowing that her cancer has spread and that she will die soon, Gus is in remission and believes that life is for living. The two bond over their mutual interests, subsequently falling in love.
From light-hearted jokes about oxygen tanks and prosthetic limbs, to living funerals and the painful reality of living with cancer, this coming of age romantic-drama explores mortality, friendships, and the meaning of life and death.
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P.S. I Love You (2007)
“There's no man, alive or dead, who's going to fault you for living.”
When her husband dies of a brain tumour, Holly’s grief causes her to withdraw from her family. On her 30th birthday, she discovers that he has left ten letters behind to help her through her grief. Her mother and her friends are sceptical, worrying she won’t be able to let go of the past, however with each letter taking her on a new adventure, Holly’s encouraged to continue living her life without Gerry. Based on Cecelia Ahern’s 2004 novel, P.S. I Love You is a poignant exploration of life after loss, and a voyage to the discovery that it’s okay to keep on living.
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The Bucket List (2007)
“The last months of his life were the best months of mine.”
Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman star in this American buddy comedy-drama as two men diagnosed with terminal cancer. Both from different backgrounds, the two eventually bond as they spend time together during treatments, deciding to embark on a list of activities before they ‘kick the bucket.’ Cue a globe-trotting adventure involving skydiving, vintage cars, and lion safaris. This touching story explores friendship, ageing, finding joy, and making the most of the time we have left.
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Coco (2017)
“Remember me, though I have to say goodbye, remember me, don't let it make you cry, for even if I'm far away, I hold you in my heart”.
Inspired by the Mexican celebration, the Day of the Dead, Disney-Pixar’s Coco tells the story of 12-year-old Miguel, an aspiring musician who is accidentally transported to the Land of the Dead. To return to his family and reverse their ancestral ban on music, he must seek the help of his decreased great-great grandfather. Praised for its emotional story and respect for Mexican culture, this Academy-Award winning Pixar feature is a colourful, joyful depiction of the importance of remembering our lost relatives.
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Good Grief (2023)
“As it turns out... to avoid sadness... is also to avoid love.”
Only landing on Netflix earlier this year, Good Grief follows Marc, played by Dan Levy, navigating his grief journey after the sudden death of his husband. The comedy-drama takes an intimate look not just at how we all react differently to grief, but also how those reactions impact those closest to us.
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My Girl (1991)
“You think death has ripped you forever apart. But I know he'll always be in your heart.”
Having grown up in a funeral home operated by her father, 11-year-old Vada has developed an obsession with death, while also living with the fear that she was responsible for the death of her mother, who died after childbirth. The film tells the story of her unlikely friendship with Thomas J., an unpopular boy in her town, during the summer of 1972. A classic coming-of-age drama, My Girl is a story of friendship that explores themes of love, loss, and growing up.
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Spoiler Alert (2022)
“You have to run the race in front of you, because that’s all there is.”
Based on the 2022 memoir by Michael Ausiello, Spoiler Alert explores the ups and downs of his 13-year relationship with photographer Kit Cowan, which takes a tragic turn when Kit is diagnosed with terminal cancer. Exploring themes of found family, emotional baggage and forgiveness, the film is a poignant look at how relationships evolve over time, particularly in the face of tragedy.
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Up (2009)
“Thanks for the adventure – now go have a new one!”
Disney-Pixar’s Up tells the story of 70-year-old Carl who embarks on the ultimate adventure to fulfil a promise he made to his late wife, unknowingly carrying a stowaway in the form of young wilderness explorer, Russell.
At the heart of the film is the life-lesson that we should make the most of each day and be open to new friendships and experiences, despite what the past has brought us. Additionally, the film was praised by critics for its emotional depth, particularly its opening sequence, a beautiful and heart-wrenching depiction of ageing and death as a part of life.
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