Ten Short Films That Will Have You Reaching for the Tissues

I don’t know about you but I will shed a tear very easily when watching TV or film. Perhaps I am easily emotionally manipulated, but I have to say that I enjoy a good old fashioned weep-fest every now and then.  There must be something in the air post-Christmas that engenders the need in me to watch movies that are almost guaranteed to make me cry (I am fully equipped to sob from the beginning of ET, right to the end; please don’t judge, it's pavlovian). However, sometimes I need a quick fix (as it were) but often you have to wait a good hour before you get to release the blubbering. 

While a build-up can be recommended, we all lead busy lives and sometimes it’s best to get straight to the point.  So, here are ten short films that had me reaching for the tissues – and I don’t mean just sad tears – most of these films deal with issues that life can spring upon us.  Yet the emotional release they offer is ultimately uplifting rather than crushing. These are stories about connection, kindness, resilience, acceptance and love - the sort that sneak up on you, catch you off guard, and leave you smiling through the tears. If you’re short on time but in need of a cathartic cry, these films go straight for the heart, no slow burn required.  (There are one or two films produced as long-form adverts included, but as they function as complete short in and of themselves, just ignore the company name at the end).

Tissues at the ready?

A Little Help

Sometimes, we all need a little help.  It stars Sarah Carmel John as Holly (I see what you did there), Charles O’Neil and was directed by Phil Beastall.   It is the only Christmas story in this particular list, but it’s a lovely take on a simple act of kindness.

Silent Love

The tagline for this short is “Love is a train running on endless tracks and it’s going to run you over unexpectedly.”  In it, two young commuters always sit in the same place on their morning train, but what is getting in the way of them having a conversation? Silent Love was directed and written by Giacomo Zanni and stars Francesca Germini and Tomas Leardini.

Ripple

Karma may be a bitch, but sometimes it’s a big fluffy labrador (metaphorically).  This heartwarming story is all about kindness that comes around – sometimes waiting quite a long time before it turns the corner and comes right back at us.  Here a young man overhears a grandmother asking for the cake her granddaughter has chosen to be taken off her bill – she cannot afford it.  The young man, in a random act of kindness, buys the cake.  It is the birthday of the girl’s grandfather, after all.  He does this as he remembers when he was a small  boy, a stranger helped his mother out in the same way. Well, you probably can see where this one is going!

The Wait

A pregnant woman sits at a bus stop and an older man asks if she is alright.  This is the starting point to a conversation.  There are a few subtle nods about where this short is going, but in four minutes, so much that is left unsaid is, in fact, said.  This is one that you will probably watch again after you know the reveal.  Cleverly scripted and beautifully acted, this short by Hyra Studio is a subtle and moving piece of film-making.

The Present

It would not be Kuriositas if this list didn't contain at least one animation. This film film follows a boy who prefers the comfort of his video games to the world beyond his front door. One day, his mum decides to stage a small surprise – a puppy.  However, the boy soon discovers that the puppy has a leg missing and kicks it away in disgust.  Unperturbed, the puppy gradually pulls his attention away from the screen and towards something far more unexpected waiting outside.  A beautiful animated short directed by Jacob Frey – who was a student when he made this.

Golden

Produced & Directed by Kai Stänicke, Golden tracks the life of a young boy who is born different. While those around him have the usual, expected skin tones, he is born golden and this sets him apart from the others.  As he grows, he becomes withdrawn from the world around him as he is so different to other young people, until one day… one day.   

Mother’s Day

For this film, Kim, and Jaycie Heskell set out to make a film based on a children's book that impacted Kim’s life in a very personal way. The book "Love You Forever" is the story of a Mother's love for her son as he progresses through life, and they set out to create a modern interpretation of the wonderful themes inside the book.  Oh boy, does it work.

The Wedding Speech

Every weeding needs speeches and this one is a little different to the usual! The brother of the groom, who is deaf, signs his best man speech at the reception.  He insists that while he signs, his brother puts his words into those a  hearing audience can listen to.  However, when it starts with the fact the brother used to call his deaf sibling an ass, a dog and a pig, it doesn’t look like the speech is going the right way at all.  However, the bond between the two brothers is, by the end, evident for all to see.

Small Talk

A solitary widower is reluctantly drawn into a series of gentle lessons about love and connection by an overly enthusiastic, and slightly irritating, child.

The film was created by Delta Kappa Alpha Productions at the University of California, Los Angeles in 2013 as part of Campus MovieFest, the world’s largest student film festival.

Kindness Boomerang 

Very much in the same vein as Ripple, Kindness Boomerang shows an act of kindness as it is passed from one stranger to the next and manages to boomerang back to the person who set it into motion.  That person is a construction worker who helps a young, fallen skateboarder back to his feet.  Yes, it is contrived, but beautifully so!

Over to you!

Do you have a favourite short film that always has your reaching for the tissues?  Then please comment below and we'll watch it and (hopefully) add it to the list!