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Loss

Jackie
Jackie
Jackie © FOX SEARCHLIGHT PICTURES ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Film can open up new worlds or it can project our own onto the silver screen. It can explore difficult themes, whether introducing us to the issues for the first time as a child, or by developing our understanding in later teenage years. From classic animations and folktales through to kitchen sink dramas and fantastical creatures, this is loss in its many forms.

Bambi
Available to stream on Into Film+ Premium

CertU

Age group5–11

Duration70 mins

Bambi(1942)

One of the greatest Disney animations, Bambi is a young deer learning love, friendship and tragedy. A timeless classic for all ages.

A rite of passage for dealing with subjects such as loss and tragedy, Bambi is a Disney classic. Though mother and son are cruelly torn apart, it is tactfully done with the death occurring off-screen, and so can be used as an introduction to these themes. The film also shows how Bambi gets through a tough time in his life with a little help from his friends.

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Up
Available to stream on Into Film+

CertU

Age groupAll ages

Duration98 mins

Up(2009)

This breathtaking animation tells the story of a grieving widower who evades eviction by attaching balloons to his house and floating away.

Pixar took tearjerking animation to another level with Up, a superb feat of storytelling which incredibly manages to get the overwhelm the viewer within the first ten minutes through a wonderful montage. The rest of the film is about dealing with grief and moving on from it, reminding us that you’re never too old to follow your dreams.

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Toy Story 3
Available to stream on Into Film+ Premium

CertU

Age group5–16

Duration98 mins

Toy Story 3(2010)

The third outing for Buzz and Woody in a tale every bit as funny, touching and exciting as it's predecessors.

From experiencing loss in the first few moments to a film which reverberates with it throughout its entire running time, Toy Story 3 has much to say on this and the nature of friendship. The whole story revolves around growing up, letting go and moving on – with characters like Bo Peep gone but not forgotten – culminating in a powerful, heart-wrenching climax.

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Into The Woods
Available to stream on Into Film+

CertPG

Age group7–14

Duration120 mins

Into The Woods(2014)

The Grimm Fairytales are brought to life in this musical about a couple who venture into the woods to break a spell that has been cast on them.

An even more sombre tone is struck at times in this adaptation of Stephen Sondheim’s much-loved musical, suitable for upper-primary students. The film explores the darker side of fairy tales and the characters who inhabit them, asking what happens after the traditional “happily ever after” moment, showcasing complex individuals which hold a mirror up to our own lives.

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Song of the Sea
Available to stream on Into Film+

CertPG

Age group7–11

Duration92 mins

Song of the Sea(2014)

A beautiful and touching animation based on an Irish folktale about a little girl who turns into a selkie.

A different sort of folklore is explored in the enchanting Song of the Sea, an Irish tale from the creators of The Secret of Kells. Full of spellbinding animation, this is a sensitive foray into family bonds and the trials of growing up. This is superb storytelling, reminiscent of charming titles such as Studio Ghibli’s Ponyo.

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Lilting

Cert15

Age group14+

Duration86 mins

Lilting(2014)

After a young man’s untimely death, his lover and mother attempt to grieve together despite having no common language between them.

A tale of same-sex love and loss is brilliantly observed in this British film, starring Ben Whishaw. After his lover’s death, he and his lover’s mother – who knew nothing of their relationship, or of her son’s sexuality – must learn to grieve together, with the aid of a translator. Lilting is a beautifully nuanced film exploring the significance of communication.

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Ratcatcher

Cert15

Age group14+

Duration94 mins

Ratcatcher(1999)

Dark, unique portrait of Glasgow in the 1970s, about a boy who blames himself after his friend drowns in a canal.

Another British story – this time set in 1970s Scotland and created by filmmaker Lynne Ramsay – is about a younger boy who struggles to cope with the death of his best friend. Protagonist James must learn to live with the guilt he feels and move on with the rest of his life in this visually-arresting, highly evocative film.

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A Monster Calls
Available to stream on Into Film+

Cert12

Age group11–16

Duration108 mins

A Monster Calls(2016)

A boy struggling to cope with his mother’s illness finds himself visited by a fantastical monster.

Like Ratcatcher, A Monster Calls also features a young male at its centre, but the story is a mix of fantasy and reality. Adapted from the superb novel of the same name, it sees Conor rallying against his mother’s severe illness. Suddenly a huge creature strides into his life, and attempts to use storytelling to ease him through the unforgiving grieving process.

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Don't Look Now

Cert15

Age group16+

Duration106 mins

Don't Look Now(1973)

Unforgettable psychological horror about a couple who decamp to Venice in order to forget the tragic death of their daughter.

As well as fantasy, the horror genre often tackles serious issues in its themes, with The Babadook being a prime modern example. Don’t Look Now is a classic version of this, in which two parents try to escape the memories of their daughter’s tragic and untimely death by taking a trip. Yet neither are able to forget, seeing her image at every turn to unsettling effect.

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Another Earth

Cert12

Age group11–16

Duration92 mins

Another Earth(2011)

Mysterious and powerful low-budget film, proving it doesn't take sci-fi wizardry to make you think about life on other planets.

Science fiction has also delved into such subjects. Here, Rhoda must decide how far she’s willing to go in order to make amends for her sins of the past. Another Earth is a fascinating drama which combines sci-fi elements – in this instance the discovery of a strange new planet which appears to very closely resemble Earth – with human connections.

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The Virgin Suicides

Cert15

Age group16+

Duration92 mins

The Virgin Suicides(1999)

A bizarre outbreak of suicides among the girls of one family is the focus of this intelligent, haunting Sofia Coppola film.

From one girl who has made a mistake in her youth to a group of impressionable, closely connected sisters. The Virgin Suicides is an unsettling drama in which a strict upbringing results in a tragic end for the siblings. Adapted from Jeffrey Eugenides’ cult novel, this film is a representation of the odd, unpredictable nature of loss.

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All About My Mother
Available to stream on Into Film+

Cert15

Age group14+

Duration99 mins

All About My Mother(1999)

Uplifting tale of Manuela, a mother who decides to relocate to Barcelona after her son's sudden death.

From girls to women, Pedro Almodóvar’s outstanding drama manages to find a more celebratory tone at times, despite the difficult subject matter at hand. After her son is killed on his 17th birthday, Manuela returns to old friends for comfort and together they help each other through the grieving process in this typically flamboyant film from the Spanish director.

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Grandma

Cert15

Age group16+

Duration79 mins

Grandma(2015)

Elle Reid hits the road with granddaughter Sage, visiting friends and old flames, in order to raise $600 for the teenager’s planned abortion.

A similar journey takes place in Grandma, which sees several generations of women portrayed on screen in a witty and affectionate manner. This film also features LGBT characters prominently, and in this case the trauma at the centre of the story is the death of Elle’s long-time partner who lingers firmly beneath the surface of this consistently funny and touching film.

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Jackie

Cert15

Age group14+

Duration100 mins

Jackie(2016)

A poignant drama about Jackie Kennedy in the aftermath of the assassination of her husband President John F Kennedy in 1963.

This biopic about Jackie Kennedy is very much about a woman of a particular era, trapped within a key moment in history. The film, from Chilean director Pablo Larraín, focuses on loss as experienced in the limelight of public scrutiny and opinion. As with Larraín’s other films, it combines political archive footage with personal experience in an intriguing manner.

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Fruitvale Station

Cert15

Age group14+

Duration82 mins

Fruitvale Station(2013)

Powerful drama based on a shocking real life story that provoked debate and protest in America.

Fruitvale Station is another fictionalised account of a true story, and one which is far more recent in the mind. This is the hard-hitting account of the last days in the life of Oscar Grant, a 22-year-old African-American who was fatally shot by police in a highly controversial incident which provoked outrage across the country.

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