🌧️ Need A Good Cry? My Go-To Movie For Emotional Release
Exploring the Emotional Power of Cinema and the Beauty of Letting Go
In this newsletter, you'll find:
😢 Why crying might be just what you need
🎬 A look at a movie that never fails to move me
✨ Two things I'm loving right now
We all have those movies that we can watch over and over again. The ones that, no matter how many times we’ve seen them, we’ll always stop and watch if they’re playing on TV. For me, there’s one particular film that stands out—not just because it’s a comfort movie, but because it’s my go-to when I need a good cry.
Crying has some surprising scientific benefits. It’s a natural way to release stress, boost your mood, and even improve your sleep. There’s even a site I’ve bookmarked called "Cry Once a Week," where they show you a sad video to get those tears flowing and encourage you to come back next week for more. Crying, as it turns out, is good for the soul.
Here are some key points about the benefits of crying:
Stress Relief: Crying can reduce stress by releasing stress hormones like cortisol. It helps activate the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting relaxation (World Economic ForumVerywell Health).
Emotional Release: Crying allows you to process and release emotions, which can prevent them from becoming overwhelming. It provides a cathartic experience, helping you feel better afterward (Harvard HealthAARP).
Social Support: Crying can signal to others that you need support, fostering empathy and social bonds. It helps communicate your feelings and receive comfort from others (Verywell HealthUSA Today).
Health Benefits: Emotional tears contain stress hormones and toxins, which are flushed out of your system when you cry. This can have a detoxifying effect (Free Range PsychiatryHarvard Health).
Improved Mood: Crying triggers the release of endorphins and oxytocin, which are feel-good hormones that can improve your mood and reduce pain (Verywell HealthHarvard Health).
Better Sleep: Crying can help reduce anxiety and stress, leading to better sleep. The emotional release and subsequent calm can make it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep (Verywell HealthAARP).
For me, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is that movie. Yes, the storyline is outlandish—completely unbelievable, really—but there’s something about it that captivates me. It’s not just the incredible performances by the actors; it’s the subtle, quiet moments that get me every time.
Take, for example, Benjamin’s relationship with Elizabeth Abbott, portrayed by Tilda Swinton. Swinton usually plays such eccentric characters, so seeing her as a romantic interest with her awkward seduction is fascinating.
When Benjamin says, “She was plain as paper but pretty to me,” it’s a five-star line. It’s a reminder that beauty isn’t just about appearance—it’s about how someone makes you feel.
Another line that sticks with me is when Benjamin says,
“You can be as mad as a mad dog at the way things went; you can swear and curse the fates—but when it comes to the end, you have to let go."
This comes after he learns about his father, who abandoned him but quietly checked in on him from time to time. The scene where his father takes him out to see one last sunrise is heart-wrenching. It’s a powerful reminder that sometimes, letting go is as much for ourselves as it is for others.
As a woman, I deeply resonate with Cate Blanchett’s character when she laments getting older but later reaffirms the importance of not losing herself to self-pity.
Daisy : I promise you, I'll never lose myself to self-pity again.
Benjamin Button : [while the day begins] And I think, right there and then, she realized none of us is perfect forever.
The ending of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button never fails to bring me to tears. The poem from the end of the movie, “I hope you have the courage to start over,” is especially moving. I love the part about how some people are artists, some are dancers, and some are mothers. Of course, there can be overlap, but it beautifully illustrates how unique we all are and how our individual talents contribute to the world’s amazing ecosystem. If I do nothing else with my life, being a mother is mountain-moving enough.
For what it's worth: it's never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. There's no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you're proud of. If you find that you're not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again.
Another aspect of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button that I love is how it features Rudyard Kipling's Just So Stories. This movie not only pulls at my heartstrings but also rekindled my appreciation for classic children's literature. Since then, I’ve started reading some of our family’s favorites to my kids, like Beatrix Potter’s The Tale of Two Bad Mice and The Tale of the Pie and the Patty-Pan. These stories are filled with rich vocabulary, making them a joy to read aloud, and they remind me of the timeless quality of Beatrix Potter's work.
What are your go-to comfort movies that offer a good cry with an uplifting message?
“You never know what's coming for you.” — The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Journal Prompt: Reflect on a time when you had to let go of something difficult. What helped you move forward, and what did you learn from the experience?
Two Things I’m Loving Right Now
The World of Peter Rabbit: One of my favorites to share is the Beatrix Potter box collection available on Amazon. The illustrations are lovely, and each story is its own little book, perfectly sized for small hands. It’s just lovely and a wonderful way to introduce children to classic literature.
Dazzle Dry Nail Polish: Finally, a nail polish that stays on all week! Dazzle Dry is my new favorite—it really does last, keeping my nails looking fresh and polished without the hassle of constant touch-ups.
More posts of mine I think you’ll love…
