MovieChat Forums > Lilja 4-ever (2002) Discussion > Most depressing and bleak movies without...

Most depressing and bleak movies without gore

posted 11 years ago by lozza_199
13 replies | jump to latest

Heyas, I have been very interested in depressing /bleak movies as of late. Watching Requiem for a dream, happiness, snow town murders, and this that's all I have seen so far.

Lilja is just fantastic. I loved it even though hours later it's still messin with my head it's all I can think about. I have been reading through the other threads about other depressing and disturbing movies but I get the impression that some of them are getting that title because of the violence and blood and gore. That does no interest me it generally bores me so I was wondering if people could mention the most depressing movies they know that are more like lilja, more realistic I suppose.

Thanks guys!

[–] Labelleloba 11 years ago

Trade(2007)
Same subject matter as Lilja 4-ever
Rosetta(1999)

"I only wish I could make you cry like I do."

[–] unshaken1 10 years ago

Naked (1993)
Christiane F.
Dancer in the Dark
The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner
Control (2007)
The Nun (1966)

[–] Dismenot 10 years ago

Clicked your list so I saw your profile. About seeing the most depressing/disturbing..
My vote for both I did not see in your list.
Watch Aurore (2005) if you haven't already. #1 for horror too, (no gore) because everything you see in the movie (and stuff you don't see in it) happened in real life. You might want to grab some Kleenex beforehand, Aurore was a ten year old girl.
Nice list btw.

http://www.missingkids.com
http://www.amberalert.gov

[–] Thrillseeker303 10 years ago

Some of the best depressing movies without blood and gore:

Boys Don't Cry
Return To Paradise
Dancer In The Dark
The Life Of David Gale
The Green Mile
American History X

Need harmonic brainwaves to soothe your diligent mind? click bryanel.com & relax!

[–] armanmarok 10 years ago

Dekalog I (1988, Krzysztof Kieslowski)
The Dreamlife of Angels (1998, Erick Zonca)

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I saw it. A thing that was cold and dry. It was me. - La Belle Noiseuse

[–] fedrulez 10 years ago

This film completely messed me up tonight. When I read the Wiki that it was based on a true story it made me cry and drink like nothing I've ever seen. I saw the lead actress at the end of Bourne Supremacy which is why I watched this. Had to watch Battleship to pick my mood up again but it's still not the same.

As far as films like this nothing's like this but some are similar:

1) The Whistle Blower - True story about UN Troops complicit in human trafficking in the Balkans.

2) Dirty Pretty Things - Fictional story about the organ trade in London

3) Ill Manors - Life in London for drug addicts, gang bangers and prostitutes. Only other film where I've cried as much as Lilja. Perhaps this was due to knowing the area where it was shot. But amazingly powerful and shot on a £50k budget which is incredible.

4) Holly - Child exploitation.

5) After Lucia - Bullying, horrible scenes in this. Loosely based around the sad story of Amanda Todd.

I'd recommend you watch any 'dumb' hollywood action film to cheer yourself up after any of these, Battleship helped me!

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Bauer vs. Bourne, that is the question.

[–] JIM_KELLYS_AFRO 9 years ago

No child of mine. British production. Very very bleak.
http://s2.hubimg.com/u/8010791_f248.jpg

[–] richard-III 8 years ago

O God. NO CHILD OF MINE, is indeed harsh and bleak.
Well told movie but very saddening.

-I don't discriminate between entertainment
and arthouse. A film is a goddam film.-

[–] ChristianWoolf 9 years ago

The Hunt
A Better Life
Requiem For A Dream (the mother subplot is more than depressing)
Dancer In The Dark
What Maisie Knew

Feel your heart beat.