The minor works of Gustav Verklempt

November 23, 2009 11:02 PM

Do me a favor here... make me cry. Or at least a little verlklempt. I would like to add to my collection of videos that get me a little choked up or emotional.

I'm looking to get worked up, but not in in a "oh gosh that's so sad, now i'm sad" sense, rather the upswelling of hope and overwhelming goodness that, you know, catches in the throat or upper digestive tract.
To elucidate and reveal what sort of sap I am, videos of returning soldiers surprising their children, or dogs do this for me, as well as (loathe to admit it) will.i.am's obama video's Yes We Can and It's a New Day both ring that bell.
I am asking this on a day wherein Ican feel myself slipping into a sort of poverty of spirit, so please, help me find those emotional resonances that make me feel more human. And sniffly and salty.

posted by Cold Lurkey to religion & philosophy (111 answers total)

Hrm... while it is best while viewed as a full-length movie, the last eight minutes of "Big Fish" always reduces me to a heap of sobs. Sobs for the love of my father, sobs for the love of storytelling, and sobs for the love of what I hope to have with my own children someday.
posted by banannafish at 11:08 PM on November 23, 2009 [11 favorites]

Pingwin always gets me, though it really depends on if you're glass half full or half empty. I'm a half empty person, and it crushes me. If you're half full, I imagine it's a beautiful (though stylized) depiction of joyful happiness.
posted by Ghidorah at 11:09 PM on November 23, 2009

seconding banannafish. Damn, that movie hurts. Also try the last part of 25th Hour (yes, the Spike Lee/Edward Norton film). If Brian Cox doesn't make you weep, you're missing something where your heart belongs.

Thanks, banannafish, for reminding me of these, and for crushing my soul.
posted by Ghidorah at 11:12 PM on November 23, 2009 [1 favorite]

A MeFi favorite.
posted by ORthey at 11:13 PM on November 23, 2009 [7 favorites]

Paper Moon.
posted by zoinks at 11:14 PM on November 23, 2009

Free hugs campaign.
posted by Addlepated at 11:19 PM on November 23, 2009 [1 favorite]

Maria Callas: O Mio Babbino Caro
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 11:22 PM on November 23, 2009 [2 favorites]

I'm sure you've seen it by now, but it bears watching again: Kiwi!
posted by cmgonzalez at 11:23 PM on November 23, 2009 [2 favorites]

This documentary (link is to pt. 1 of 5, other parts on YT) posted here on the Blue. Have tissues handy.
posted by _dario at 11:36 PM on November 23, 2009 [8 favorites]

Any of the more preachy bits from the classic West Wing, especially those involving Bartlett. This YouTube search should get you started. Specifically, there's the College Kids speech and the 20 Hours in America speech that goes with it ("the streets of heaven are too crowded with angels"), the ending to Posse Comitatus (continued with part 2, where you get the awesomeness of the Stephen Oliver song), the story of, What's Next, and of course, since the show is fundamentally about duty, Ainsley's speech on her sense of duty to public service, culminating in a warm welcome to the tune of He is an Englishman.

Once you've got yourself all riled up, you can ridicule it all with the MadTV sketch.
posted by zachlipton at 12:03 AM on November 24, 2009 [8 favorites]

Glen Hansard's take on Van Morrison's Astral Weeks ... always does it for me.
posted by philip-random at 12:25 AM on November 24, 2009

This is what it's all about for me. Could watch this a thousand times but I promise I'd still be weeping at showing number 987. True love, family, life, death, dreams and achievements... but mostly just the clear spare beauty of life.

Man do I miss this crazy intense brilliant show: Six Feet Under, the final 6 minutes (set to the best music in the history of ever).

Enjoy!
posted by ohyouknow at 12:26 AM on November 24, 2009 [4 favorites]

A Vietnam veteran returns a family photo to the daughter of the man he killed.
posted by prinado at 1:08 AM on November 24, 2009 [5 favorites]

A woman reads Shakespeare to her dog.
posted by Iridic at 1:20 AM on November 24, 2009

Sad movies and whatnot never affect me, so this was pretty unique. Be warned this can take a long time. But if you watch Six Feet Under from start to end that season finale will reduce you to a sad heap of sad.
posted by floam at 1:21 AM on November 24, 2009 [2 favorites]

This clip from Mr. Rogers' last episode totally destroyed me with kindness and sweetness and everything good in the world.
posted by cobwebberies at 1:24 AM on November 24, 2009 [12 favorites]

Yeah, I don't cry at sad movies or anything but when I watched the last couple minutes of Six Feet Under (after having watched the entire series over a span of years) by sheer coincidence a bunch of dust and grit got into BOTH EYES at the same time.

I assume your eyes would be safer from dust if you hadn't watched the series.
posted by Justinian at 1:53 AM on November 24, 2009

Father & Daughter by Michael Dudok de Wit. I still can't fathom the insight this animator has into human emotion. So simple, so perfect, so human...
posted by ouke at 1:58 AM on November 24, 2009 [6 favorites]

The saddest move evar is Louis Malle's "Au Revoir Les Enfants," but it's also about the Holocaust so it's obviously the opposite of a laff riot.

A movie I cried at the end of unexpectedly, and which still gets to me today, is "Shower." The closing scene is simultaneously crushing and uplifting, if that makes any sense.
posted by bardic at 2:43 AM on November 24, 2009 [1 favorite]

Watching Farmer Hoggett dance for Babe always makes me weepy, then makes me laugh.
posted by dzaz at 2:44 AM on November 24, 2009 [6 favorites]

Sure, it's self-linking. Here's a video of me dancing ballet with my 6 year old daughter. It the first recital for both of us. I'm in all black because I'm supposed to be invisible and am there to help guide her. She has Down syndrome, had a stroke when she was born, and took four years to learn how to walk. If my shirt had buttons, it wouldn't have buttons.
posted by plinth at 2:53 AM on November 24, 2009 [33 favorites]

Children of the Holocaust
posted by watercarrier at 2:56 AM on November 24, 2009

The end of Field of Dreams.

The end of August Rush (which is a terrible movie).

Picking up on cobwebberies' post, Mr. Rogers' speech upon accepting his lifetime Emmy.

The end of Rebel Without A Cause.

Every minute, beginning to end, of Ponette. (The effect for me was not verklempt, but heaving sobs and a wicked headache.)

+1 to dzaz and Babe. Sniff!
posted by Sweetie Darling at 2:57 AM on November 24, 2009 [1 favorite]

Schindler's List - Lost Children
posted by watercarrier at 3:01 AM on November 24, 2009

1.5 Million Children Murdered - Very sad with music from - Radiohead - Videotape - Coldplay - 42
posted by watercarrier at 3:04 AM on November 24, 2009

Tribute to Dick and Rick Hoyt - interview and then compilation with music
posted by notcomputersavvy06 at 3:04 AM on November 24, 2009

This right here.
posted by WidgetAlley at 3:16 AM on November 24, 2009

Christian the Lion always does it for me.
posted by heavenstobetsy at 3:18 AM on November 24, 2009 [15 favorites]

Centraal Station Antwerpen gaat uit zijn dak!
posted by bricoleur at 4:01 AM on November 24, 2009 [1 favorite]

The last few minutes of "My Dinner With Andre."
posted by Elsie at 4:49 AM on November 24, 2009

Following on the Mr. Roger's trend, Mr. Roger's defending PBS to the US Senate.

Also, Jesus, you people really know how to make a girl weep. Not how I expected to start my morning.
posted by piratebowling at 5:00 AM on November 24, 2009 [2 favorites]

This documentary (link is to pt. 1 of 5, other parts on YT) posted here on the Blue. Have tissues handy.

I already favorited this but felt I should second the motion outright. I get teary-eyed just thinking about the scene when the students join in solidarity with a fellow student that has been excessively punished. It reaffirms my faith in humanity. And given my low opinion of humanity in general, that's saying a lot.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 5:22 AM on November 24, 2009 [1 favorite]

Possibly more of a "gosh that's so sad" than an "aww...*sniff*" moment, although there's elements of both: the residents of Sesame Street explain to Big Bird that Mr Hooper isn't coming back.
posted by ZsigE at 5:24 AM on November 24, 2009 [12 favorites]

Came here to mention the Father & Daughter animation as well. As a father of daughters, it's an outright gut-shot (but in a good way).
posted by jquinby at 5:34 AM on November 24, 2009

I Love a good cry.

La Marseillaise

The richest man in town

O Captain, my Captain

All of Les Miserables, but this one does it for me

To me, you are perfect

Goddamn you, Joss Whedon

If this doesn't make you tear up...
posted by bookgirl18 at 5:36 AM on November 24, 2009

If you want a bittersweet upswelling of hope, and emotional resonance, you cannot beat The Wrath of Khan. My dad took me to see it when I was 12 years old. I was so excited to be going to a cool movie with my dad. As it turned out, I ended up being very embarrassed that I had cried in front of my dad at a movie.
posted by Shohn at 5:38 AM on November 24, 2009

Where the hell is Matt?
posted by sickinthehead at 5:48 AM on November 24, 2009 [10 favorites]

Oh my god, and I can't believe I forgot this for a second. This is so incredible. Whenever I watch it I feel my life pause for a minute until it is over.
posted by sickinthehead at 5:49 AM on November 24, 2009

Love Actually always gets me, both in happy parts and sad.
posted by firei at 6:01 AM on November 24, 2009 [3 favorites]

You'll find "happy cry" opportunities to do this in both Up and Wall-e. (WARNING: UP has one of the most moving openings in movie history which will leave you in tears from the sentimentality of the scenes.)
posted by Atreides at 6:02 AM on November 24, 2009 [2 favorites]

The film version of "Carousel."
Really.
posted by pentagoet at 6:08 AM on November 24, 2009 [1 favorite]

Team Hoyt. There are lots of variations, but this is the one I saw first.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 6:15 AM on November 24, 2009

Watch all of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I never (almost never) cry at TV, and I broke down sobbing at three parts, even knowing these scenes were coming: Buffy killing Angel at the end of Season 2, Buffy finding her mother's body and trying to figure out what to do in "The Body," and Buffy dying for Dawn at the end of Season 5.

And, okay, a little bit when Tara died. And in that episode when Buffy and Angelus are possessed by the ghosts of that murder-suicide couple in the school and Buffy finally gets to tell Angel how much he hurt her. And when Anya dies. And, okay, I guess Buffy just makes me cry a lot.
posted by oinopaponton at 6:16 AM on November 24, 2009 [1 favorite]

Validation
posted by hydropsyche at 6:18 AM on November 24, 2009

Baxter, the oldest therapy dog.
posted by crankylex at 6:18 AM on November 24, 2009 [6 favorites]

Not sure if anyone else has already posted it (I'm posting from work, so can't watch these), but When She Loved Me from Toy Story 2 also always leaves me with a lump in my throat.
posted by ZsigE at 6:38 AM on November 24, 2009 [5 favorites]

The end of The Little Mermaid....come on! Also, E.T. The Extra-Terrestial.

Just flat out sad, blubbery crying - Bridge to Terabithia and My Dog Skip.

I swear that I do, on occasion, watch films made for those older than 12.
posted by iconomy at 6:43 AM on November 24, 2009

Oh. Videos. Not films. Never mind. My reading comprehension skills, let me not show you them.
posted by iconomy at 6:44 AM on November 24, 2009

Jon Stewart's response to 9/11
posted by AAAAAThatsFiveAs at 6:53 AM on November 24, 2009 [8 favorites]

When this was posted in the blue I learned what "maudlin" means. It chokes me up anyway: All About My Dog - Marimo
posted by Monster_Zero at 6:55 AM on November 24, 2009

{jesus, crankylex...way to reduce me to helpless sobbing before 10am. OP, if that link doesn't fit the bill for you, nothing will.]
posted by availablelight at 7:03 AM on November 24, 2009

Pretty sure everyone's seen this now, but The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch gets me every time, towards the end when he embraces his wife.
posted by castlebravo at 7:05 AM on November 24, 2009

Previously?
posted by Confess, Fletch at 7:08 AM on November 24, 2009

The reunion scene from The Killing Fields.
posted by jquinby at 7:18 AM on November 24, 2009

A Jimmy Stewart Double Bill for you
posted by Jofus at 7:19 AM on November 24, 2009

Wow, you've had some great answers here. I'm glad I'm not the only one who breaks down into wrenching sobs at the ending of Big Fish. Then again, I cry at commercials. Speaking of...

Do you have a Publix grocery store nearby? There are two things you should know about Publix: they have wonderfully designed store-brand goods, and their commercials have a tendency of reducing me to tears. Publix puts out sappy commercials near the holidays, and I always fall for them.

Happy Valentine's Day. And again.

Happy Thanksgiving. And again.

Happy Holidays.

Publix: food porn that makes you cry.

And, if you want a to laugh a bit after crying so much, watch this hilarious Christmas commercial.
posted by ElectricBlue at 7:20 AM on November 24, 2009

this audition (and later)

Torch Song Trilogy
posted by K.P. at 7:23 AM on November 24, 2009

Casablanca - La Marseillaise.
posted by dirtdirt at 7:27 AM on November 24, 2009 [2 favorites]

availablelight, I thought nothing would make me cry harder than watching Christian the Lion, but Baxter did me in. Cold Lurkey, if the dogs greeting soldiers home from war sets you off, make sure you have tissues and perhaps a stuffed (or live) animal for comfort while watching the Baxter vid.
posted by crankylex at 7:33 AM on November 24, 2009

I've gotta say that (to me at least) this clip of AC Milan fans singing you'll never walk alone in tribute of Liverpool fans who lost their lives at Hillsborough fits this theme (even if the video isn't the best).
posted by inigo2 at 7:36 AM on November 24, 2009 [1 favorite]

The One Person song from the Jim Henson Memorial. Context is sad cry, but the message in the song is super uplifting happy cry.
posted by kitkatcathy at 8:07 AM on November 24, 2009

This is Charley
and the movie Rory O'Shea Was Here
posted by Soliloquy at 8:25 AM on November 24, 2009 [1 favorite]

In "What Dreams May Come," Robin Williams' character is introduced to another character when Cuba Gooding Jr. is unavailable to continue to play heavenly tour-guide. Leona is a quiet, firm, knowledgeable Asian woman who introduces Chris to another part of heaven - the world she has created for herself, with bathing Victorians, a city on a hill, Escher-esque waterfalls and heavenly ballerinas. And as they explore it together, Chris realizes that Leona is his daughter in disguise. That, in heaven, she took on the form of an Asian woman because her father once said they were beautiful - and she wanted to be beautiful too.

Kiwi is great. Seconding.

And there is a scene in "Finding Neverland" where Kate Winslet is dying of tuberculosis, and... sob... Johnny Depp... sob... takes her... sob... to Neverland.

And then in "Love, Actually," when Emma Thompson's character realizes her husband has bought a necklace for another woman, and she excuses herself to the other room to break down, all set to the (new) Joni Mitchell song "Both Sides Now." Oh god. It's just too much.

But I can't emphasize enough what floam suggested: Six Feet Under's series finale. Don't watch it now, but do yourself a favor and get to know the characters and the storyline, and I assure you that by the time you watch that finale, you'll be a wreck (in a good way). The only place I'd disagree with floam is that it doesn't make me sad - it makes me entirely hopeful as I watch Claire depart into the rest of her very long and successful life.

I'm kind of blubbering now.
posted by greekphilosophy at 8:32 AM on November 24, 2009

Kenneth Branagh's Saint Crispian's Day speech from Henry V.

The end of Parenthood.
posted by dlugoczaj at 8:38 AM on November 24, 2009

May 1, 1994

Imola, Italy
posted by Zambrano at 8:43 AM on November 24, 2009

I've been evaluating videos and marking best answers as I go, but I'm starting to get overwhelmed. I'll continue after I've regained my composure.
Briefly, while yes, just the last 8 minutes of big fish are enough to get me going, I'm not looking for whole movies (or TV series) to watch to get the response... an online, sweet sucker punch of sentiment should suffice. Another key point is that I'm looking for tears of joy, less tragedy and loss.
If I ever start using a daily affirmation, that Mr. Rogers finale might just be it.
posted by Cold Lurkey at 8:48 AM on November 24, 2009

If you are a parent (and maybe even if you're not), this will hit you in the gut: The Years are Short. It's not sad, it's touching. And it's a one-minute video.
posted by yawper at 9:09 AM on November 24, 2009 [1 favorite]

Since you mention Yes We Can, you might also like Dave Stewart's reworking of American Prayer. I almost posted it last year but it came right at the moment that all the pushback about Obama supporters being a cult of personality revved up. I like it a tad better than the will.i.am, actually. (Note that the one person in the entire video who actually knew MLK in person -- as far as I know or assume likely -- is Joan Baez, and her reaction at 4:08.)

If I'm right, you're looking for stuff like Rescue many horses -- I've tried it without the Vangelis and it works but it's timed quite well with.

(And for LOTR speeches, for me it's Théoden's; I tend to lose it when he runs down the line hitting spear with sword. So effective it's hard to believe it's just something they improvised on set that day.)
posted by dhartung at 9:18 AM on November 24, 2009 [1 favorite]

Or, you can experience "La Magica de la Solidaridad." (The Magic of Working Together - to fight juvenile cancer.)
posted by greekphilosophy at 9:36 AM on November 24, 2009

Lord of the Rings? It's all about lighting the signal fires.
posted by dirtdirt at 9:40 AM on November 24, 2009 [1 favorite]

Carl & Ellie: A Love Story - the dialogue-free intro to Up! Just seeing a small part of this made me teary-eyed.

Anecdote: before I saw this film, I was at a party with my wife, where a rather burly guy was telling folks about his reaction to the movie. He said he had served two tours of duty in Iraq, had seen people die in horrible ways, and he hadn't shed a tear. But when he saw the movie with his wife of only a few months, he bawled like a little girl, and that was only the intro. The thought of losing the love of his life tore him up like nothing else. Right then and there, he went from intimidating to someone I wanted to comfort, all because of four minutes of an animated film.
posted by filthy light thief at 9:41 AM on November 24, 2009 [7 favorites]

This is my third post here, and I'm sorry I didn't consolidate them, but I just remembered this.

This is really amazing.
posted by sickinthehead at 9:46 AM on November 24, 2009

Little girl forgets national anthem lyrics in front of 20,000 people. But have no fear, Mo Cheeks saves the day.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 10:09 AM on November 24, 2009

Speaking of Up, the short film that ran before it -- Partly Cloudy -- made me cry (the happy, sweet kind of cry, which is what you're looking for).
posted by chowflap at 10:24 AM on November 24, 2009

While a great number of movies have made me emotional, I can only think of a few that haven't been mentioned (so far) that for me, qualify as having moments of happy cries.

The first movie to send that kind of salt down my cheeks was Joy Luck Club, specifically the moment June achieves an understanding with her mother.

The final game depicted in Rudy was a moment of validation, particularly after the build-up of events throughout the film. The emotional aspect gets jump-started by the left tackle's chant.

And speaking of Pixar, the very end of Monsters, Inc. usually gets me in the gut.
posted by CancerMan at 10:41 AM on November 24, 2009

I literally can't watch this Pedigree commercial about Echo the unadopted dog without tears rolling down my face. So then I have to watch the awesome sequel commercial (of sorts) so I'm not a complete wreck for the rest of the day. I know it's a commercial for pet food that's probably made out of baby bird bones or whatever, but this shit is kryptonite to dog folk.
posted by zoomorphic at 10:57 AM on November 24, 2009 [6 favorites]

Dead Poets Society end scene does it for me.
posted by edman at 12:36 PM on November 24, 2009

Overtime, a short animation in tribute to Jim Henson, really a must see, and hear.

The JCB Song by Nizlopi, for full effect you should be a 30-35 year old (tom)boy.

Oscar nominated short, More.
posted by Iteki at 1:02 PM on November 24, 2009

Holy shit. I haven't gotten to see Up yet, because stupid school makes my days and nights too busy these days. I'd heard about the intro, but I had no idea how beautiful, simple, heartbreaking and amazing it could be.

For my own submissions: in one of the rare cases where Studio 60 actually earned the emotional payoff it was going for, it's around Christmas, and Matt and Danny can't secure a musical act. Simultaneously, members of the house band keep skipping out uncharacteristically, leaving unknowns to sub in for them. It later becomes clear that the house band is trying to throw some work to some out-of-towners around the holidays because they can no longer get gigs back home. At the end of the episode, they introduce their musical guest, "The City of New Orleans." Gets me every time.

Alternatively, it seems that everyone but me gets choked up by the ending of the Futurama episode "Jurassic Bark," which is good, but not nearly as effecting to me as the endings of "Time Keeps on Slipping," "The Luck of the Fryrish," and "The Devil's Hands are Idle Playthings." Sorry that I couldn't find video for all of them.

I highly suggest this old thread from The Blue for more, especially because it includes a link to The Simpsons' "And Maggie Makes Three," but I'll finish by saying that watching Dancing 2008 will still make me cry tears of joy for all the beauty across the world and the people in it.
posted by Navelgazer at 2:32 PM on November 24, 2009

This may sound strange, but these insurance commercials from Thailand will fit the bill nicely, I think, particularly the first one on the page.
posted by anastasiav at 3:09 PM on November 24, 2009

This video will drain your tear canals completely.
posted by cheerleaders_to_your_funeral at 3:34 PM on November 24, 2009 [3 favorites]

These clips from the beginning and end of Love Actually are wonderful and make me teary-eyed every time I see them, because they feature real footage of people meeting their loved ones at the gate in Heathrow Airport.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 6:10 PM on November 24, 2009

And don't worry, Richard Curtis says on the commentary they had PAs standing by with releases for everybody.

I almost forgot this one -- Bathtub IV (Clementine) [mefi].
posted by dhartung at 7:11 PM on November 24, 2009

Otters holding hands.

Damnit this gets me.
posted by inigo2 at 7:15 PM on November 24, 2009

You have probably seen this wedding entrance. It's been on MeFi before I think, but I do like to revisit it for a little heart squeeze. [*Does little twirl n twist*]
posted by honey-barbara at 7:43 PM on November 24, 2009

Of course, Australians had to capitalise on it, with some mighty tacky, with this.
posted by honey-barbara at 7:56 PM on November 24, 2009

Of all things this Pampers commercial featuring Rod Stewart's song "Forever young"
posted by JujuB at 8:08 PM on November 24, 2009

Nthing so many of the above, especially anything related to Up and Lord of the Rings. I get all kinds of choked up watching those movies.

Hopefully this won't be a spoiler for anyone, but I think it stands on its own regardless: in Return of the King, when everything looks grim and horrible and just too much to bear, Sam proves, once again, that he's the absolute best friend anyone can ever dream of having - "I can't carry it for you. But I can carry you!"
posted by cobwebberies at 8:10 PM on November 24, 2009

dhartung: I almost forgot this one -- Bathtub IV (Clementine) [mefi].

Thank you for posting that, dhartung. I didn't see it the first time around, and it's beautiful, the images and music both.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 8:14 PM on November 24, 2009

"I can't carry it for you. But I can carry you!"

Uh-oh, I'm suddenly reminded of Neil Diamond ... which, by way of Youtube's inscrutable "relatedness" connects me with the Marmalade's Reflections of my Life.

What was the question again?
posted by philip-random at 8:32 PM on November 24, 2009

You know what gave me a response like this today, out of all proportion to its scale, right here on Mefi?

This/this and this/this.

Aw. Community.
posted by skwt at 9:15 PM on November 24, 2009

The Boy in Striped Pajamas. Waaaaaaaaa...
posted by pintapicasso at 9:33 PM on November 24, 2009

The question, that my dear ladies and gentlemen of metafilter have addressed so aptly, was one of how to get a good little heartwarming cry off the internet. I must thank you all for doing me such a great service in collating this little tearbombs. Keep them coming please, as I'm discovering a great therapeutic value in starting one's day with a bit of a sniffle. It seems to bring, me at least, a long lasting buoyancy.

An aside on music: Weapons Grade Pandemonium, Bricoleur, sickinthehead and Navalgazer have all pointed out sublime musical moments and the frisson certainly works for me. But it is, however, an altogether different sensation. That visceral response is one that I find very interesting but it has a totally different emotional charge. Another question for another time perhaps.

Finally, I'm going to stop looking at these videos for tonight, as I'm in danger of burning myself out on them, which would be doubly sad as they've been very effective. But there are many many gems already.

Thank you all again.
posted by Cold Lurkey at 9:48 PM on November 24, 2009

I think this one from an AskMe about rendering was mentioned, but now I can't find it. Must be all the clouds in my eyes. It's called Anchored. Had me sobbing. It's gorgeous.
Oh man, there I go again.

OK, so this one is not typical for me at all. The first time I heard this, Stephen Colbert was getting interviewed on NPR. They played this clip just as I was pulling into my parking spot after grocery shopping. For some reason, Colbert and Legend singing the Star Spangled Banner just punches my weepy buttons. I have no idea why, really. I'm cynical about politics. Maybe it's the delivery. My jaw drops open and I get dust or allergies or something.
posted by lilywing13 at 2:15 AM on November 25, 2009

You might like this set of Japanese commercials that document the final week of a 131-year-old elementary school and its last graduating class.
posted by emmling at 8:45 AM on November 25, 2009 [1 favorite]

National Anthem on Fenway Park's Disability Awareness Day.
posted by susanvance at 10:47 AM on November 25, 2009

Here's another great one: Transcending by Kelly Corrigan, about women and their girlfriends.
posted by yawper at 7:32 AM on November 26, 2009

Not quite sure this is what you're after, but I felt the way you described after viewing last year's Oscar-winning short "La Maison en Petits Cubes." It's beautiful.
posted by soonertbone at 7:45 PM on November 26, 2009 [1 favorite]

Also, Susan Boyle's audition.
posted by yawper at 9:03 PM on November 26, 2009

If I'm right, you're looking for stuff like Rescue many horses...

I think that is one of the best things I have ever seen in my life.
posted by turgid dahlia at 12:37 AM on November 27, 2009 [1 favorite]

People seem to either love or hate the movie Jésus de Montréal. The ending is difficult (warning: NSFW, NSF squeamish people), but I always start crying at about the 6:45 mark of this clip.
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 11:50 PM on November 27, 2009

I've probably seen this 20 times, and it makes me sob uncontrollably. In a wonderful way. It's Christian, and I don't know your religious views, but please watch it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyheJ480LYA

Also, The Piano. I remember seeing it in the theater and breaking down during the credits.

I hope you're encouraged.
posted by littleflowers at 6:50 PM on December 1, 2009

This Olympics Visa ad about Derek Redmond gets me.
posted by sharkfu at 9:46 PM on December 1, 2009

Wow, I'd missed the commercials emmling pointed out. Those are amazing. Seriously, give them a try.

Try also, maybe a bit difficult, but towards the end of the Heisei Tanuki War there's a scene that always brings out tears. Can't even talk about it without getting teary. Some of the Tanuki try to, I guess, dream/wish back how things used to be. It's a stunning scene, and worth checking out. Evidently the whole movie is on youtube (The scene is here, about 5 minutes in), but there's a bad lag in the sound, and the dubbing is dubbing, if you can, find the subtitled version. It's a powerful film.
posted by Ghidorah at 10:39 PM on December 8, 2009

Japanese version, but no subtitles. The sound works, though.
posted by Ghidorah at 10:41 PM on December 8, 2009

I must be a really cynical bastard b/c, although I thoroughly enjoyed Six Feet Under, the last ten minutes had me busting a gut, rolling around on the floor laughing.
posted by stinkycheese at 9:29 AM on December 9, 2009

Moments - If you ever need to be smacked upside the head with the beauty of very single day, this is a video that will make you weep (it did me in).

Inspired by the "After Life" episode of WNYC's Radiolab, which is far and away the best podcast/radio show being made right now.

(Thank you for this question!)
posted by nelleish at 7:33 PM on December 9, 2009 [1 favorite]

Just remembered that the first Sony Bravia advert always kills me, in a good way.
Please, treat yourself to the HD version.
posted by Iteki at 12:14 PM on December 10, 2009

This live video of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes is making me tear up a bit right now.
posted by oinopaponton at 6:18 PM on December 17, 2009

So, having reduced me to ecstatic tears so effectively, I'll leave you all with a DFW quote from Infinite Jest, as I've found the same effect in my life:
I could hear faint sounds of early-morning weeping in certain rooms beyond my line of sight. Lots of the top players start the A.M. with a quick fit of crying, then are basically hale and well-wrapped for the rest of the day.

Such is to say I've started many a day more hale and well-wrapped due to your wonderful finds. Thank you.
posted by Cold Lurkey at 12:18 AM on December 29, 2009

Grave of the Fireflies-- I can't even say the title out loud without choking up a little, let alone look for a link. Should be easy to find though.
posted by ambulocetus at 4:18 PM on March 3, 2010 [1 favorite]