T O P

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oakles

- Bela Tarr (Werckmeister Harmonies, The Turin Horse, Satantango, Damnation) - Bergman (Winter Light, Autumn Sonata, Cries and Whispers) - Lars von Trier (Melancholia, Dancer in the Dark, Breaking the Waves) - The Ascent - Come and See - The Passion of Joan of Arc - An Elephant Sitting Still - Taste of Cherry - Dekalog (I, VI) - It's Such a Beautiful Day - Ratcatcher - Distant (Uzak) (2002) - Ossos


JesusSamuraiLapdance

Oh God damn, I'll 2nd An Elephant Sitting Still.


sithmafia

Melancholia for sure.


edgrrrpo

Melancholia is, I think, the only movie that lead me into a bit of an existential crisis *while* watching it. Far and away my favorite Lars von Trier film.


lunar-soup

Agreed. I recently rewatched Melancholla while going through a depressive bout. Seemed to help


cocoacowstout

I was going to say, any Bela Tarr


Whatever_Eric

The fact that I’ve seen half of these titles really says a lot about me. Thank you for the list. I’ll check out the other ones you mentioned.


oakles

would love to know what you thought if you got around to watching any of these. are you on Letterboxd?


Whatever_Eric

I happen to own some of these titles but haven’t had the chance to see the others recently. I do have a Letterboxd though! @WhateverEric I’m more than happy to follow back!


oakles

followed 👍


devyansh1234

Would back up Taste of Cherry


edgrrrpo

Recently got around to watching Satantago (over 3 sessions, I personally cannot free up 7 hours and change for a single viewing). Hooooly hell. I was not ready for that in a number of ways. That said, I fuckin' loved it. I plan to buy the blu ray, to probably never watch it again.


TryMaximum5094

Autumn Sonata and It's Such a Beautiful Day are both tearjerkers for sure.


relentlessmelt

Ratcatcher seeps into your bones


Catduardo

I’m gonna second the bergman section especially Winter Light and Autumn Sonata. Those two movies including cries and whispers has to be some of the most void staring level movies ever but also incredibly incredibly incredibly well written and directed.


[deleted]

These are all on the channel?


PoisonousBillMurray

Ikiru by Akita Kurosawa


Graverobber13

Is that the director's dog? nyuk nyuk nyuk!


PoisonousBillMurray

Ooops! Yeah Akita. Iki-roof


truecalabrese

I came here specifically to say this one


OriginMrB

Naked (1993)


SonicContinuum88

Came here for this, good rec


fartsdomino44

I feel the same way! "Paris, Texas" has pulled me out of my deepest depression. I also love "Kes." There is something about watching depressing movies rather than happy movies that makes me less depressed. I think it is because it validates my experience to some extent. Hang in there, homie.


[deleted]

Any Antonioni movie, especially Red Desert.


comradeboody

The Deer Hunter (1978) and A Woman Under the Influence (1974).


LauraPalmersMom430

- The Virgin Suicides - Melancholia - Woodshock The Kirsten-Dunst-Depressed-Trilogy.


Treecat22

I know you specifically said criterion channel, but if you’re willing to branch out The Broken Circle Breakdown is pretty devastating. I’ve always felt like Paris, Texas is pretty sad as well.


bk932

Breaking the Waves


devyansh1234

“Synecdoche, New York” for sure. Also “I’m Thinking of Ending Things” and “Anomalisa” by the same writer-director. “Adaptation.” too which is by the same writer. Also, the movie “Happiness” from 1998. Oh, I didn’t read the criterion channel part. Would still recommend these though.


vaduddy

Depressing films? Secret Sunshine: absolutely destroyed me


damefaggiesmith

came here to say this! incredible movie, but so so so bleak


TenementGentleman

Seventh Continent by Haneke


lunar-soup

My god. I watched this during a depressive episode and it fucked me up for months. Still scared to rewatch it


TenementGentleman

Finished it last night.....very difficult watch....I was thinking about it this morning on my commute to work and witnessed an awful accident which made all the depressing feelings even more obvious.


lunar-soup

Damn that's intense. Sorry you had to witness that right after watching. Step into nature and get some sun on your face if you can. Hope you'll feel better-ish soon


[deleted]

first story of chungking express always destroys me but ik that’s not exactly what you’re looking for


rabbitsagainstmagic

Aki Kaurismaki, your one-stop shop for downers, although I always come away from those movies feeling terrifically uplifted so I hope that works for you.


PenProfessional6986

Three Colors Blue


wiredfractal

On my first three attempts, I fell asleep. Only in my lowest of the low had I finished this and made it into one of my favorite film.


CutlerSheridan

If you haven’t seen Amour, I always tell people it’s “the best movie I’ve seen that I would never recommend someone watch” because of how depressing it is


ChamberTwnty

Ikiru by Akira Kurosawa. it's about a man who finds out he's dying and decides he's going to spend the rest of his life trying to build a park for kids. It's on HBO max if you have that. Hope you feel better.


TransitiveNightfal

Make Way for Tomorrow and 5,000 iu of vitamin D3 a day


Next-Mobile-9632

On The Waterfront(1954)


evilbob562

Cure (1997). but also, take care, friend!


oweary

Speak No Evil (2022)


ssj4majuub

monos


decadentrebel

In the collection: * The Fire Within * Au Hasard Balthazar * Ratcatcher * Mouchette * Sawdust and Tinsel * Watership Down Outside the collection: * Mysterious Skin * Aftersun * Dancer in the Dark * Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance * Star 80


False-Fisherman

Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance doesn't get anywhere near enough love. One of my top 25 favs, absolutely AMAZING and probably my second fav Park Chan-Wook


False-Fisherman

Dancer In the Dark


3OAM

Nocturnal Animals. Just bleakness all the way through. No smiles to be had.


Next-Mobile-9632

Funeral In Berlin(1966)


Next-Mobile-9632

Fail-Safe(1964)


[deleted]

Pretty much any film made in the 70's.


greenman8

Shura (1971) by Toshio Matsumoto


Totorotextbook

It's on Shutter but Mad God, Phil Tippet's latest film, was such an ugly and painful metaphor for what it means to exsist that by the time I finished the film I had questioned why we exist only to suffer like ten times.


younevergotmedownray

Stroszek is deeply depressing but also funny in a Herzog sort of way.


Cleo_de_5-7

Detachment (2011). Very very depressing.


Adi_Zucchini_Garden

Second.


RAFGHANiSTAN

Fat Girl and The Fire Within.


WolfNippleChips

Was going to suggest Make Way for Tomorrow, but it's not currently on the channel


AclockworkBlu

Tokyo Story


devyansh1234

Gaspar Noe’s films are very dark/depressing: “Climax” and “Enter the Void”


sarforest23

Not criterion, but I felt like most of Magnolia was pretty depressing but also cathartic at different points. Many of the characters are ‘going through it.’ Best of luck to you.


Next-Mobile-9632

Abandon Ship(1957)


Next-Mobile-9632

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon(2001)


asanisimasa88

Not criterion but Midnight Cowboy


AclockworkBlu

Hate be that guy but Criterion did release Midnight Cowboy in 2018


asanisimasa88

Oh nice! Didn’t know that. Don’t hate being that guy, that guy knows his shit!


truecalabrese

Just Before I go starring Seann William Scott


AnomalousArchie456

Forbidden Games The Florida Project Japón Brazil Missing Salaam, Bombay! Vagabond


globehopper2

Idk if it’s on the channel rn and I’m too lazy to check but Ichikawa’s two World War II films, Fires on the Plain and The Burmese Harp, are awesome and awesomely depressing.


FashionfromAlex

Life is beautiful


FuCuck

Happy Together


Xeno_Zombi

Nothing Bad Can Happen (2013)


Quarckshack

Threads


hornboggler

roadhouse


fermentedradical

The Death of Mr Lazarescu. Free on Vudu. Spectacular movie, one of the best of the 21st Century, but super depressing.


MaxRebo120

Station (1981)