Hidden Gems | “Beauty That Breaks Your Heart”
Camus said, “Beauty makes people sad,” because things become even more heartbreaking the moment they break. These 6 films are stunningly beautiful, but also deeply sad to watch.
① “White Meadow”
I always thought Jafar Panahi was jailed for his own films, but it turns out it was because of his editing work on this one. I don’t fully get the political metaphors, but the cinematography is gorgeous, very much like Andrei Tarkovsky’s style—making the reality feel even heavier.
② “Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors”
Saw this at a film archive. Sergei Parajanov is a true cinematic poet, and the camera work here is incredible. It’s like a narrative poem, where the poetry lives in the fluid, layered movement of the shots.
③ “The Crying Meadow”
I rarely recommend Tarkovsky (he’s a master, after all), but I love watching his shadows and light, especially on the big screen. His films feel like installation art—each frame packed with rich meaning and deep emotions.
④ “Know Yourself, Know Others”
Recently watched and loved this true hidden gem. It’s about the tragedy of vanity and fame, a familiar theme, but this film struck me. The coldness of human nature stands out starkly beneath the glamorous surface—a beautiful woman who looks like a clown. That’s the cruel reality.
⑤ “Ghosts of the Hive”
A haunting fable about a girl’s growing up. Innocence is scary, yet this film shows it in a mysteriously beautiful way—shocking in its beauty, and bold in its darkness.
⑥ “The Lonely Blind Woman, A Ling”
Shima Iwashita is stunning here. Some lives are born empty and remain empty until the end. Some say sorrow deepens beauty, but I don’t quite agree. I understand how beauty hits the soul, but sadness can also feel just as absolute.
#entertainment #movie #bittersweetbeauty
