Fall is here, I’m sad and so are the movies I’m watching
Comment - Stine Ellegård
There’s something about fall, the darkness and bad weather, it makes you not want to leave bed ever again or at least not until spring arrives. I’m staying inside and entertaining myself with movies that match my mood, reflecting on if this makes me feel better or not.
Time for fall movies
Kristen Stewart as Bella in Twilight (2008). Copyright: Summit Entertainment. Photo: IMDb
I was watching the movie Twilight in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the first book being released. People I knew said it was such a fall movie, but I didn’t quite understand why. It has a dark moody vibe sure, but it’s as if that automatically makes it a fall movie. As far as I’m aware the movie doesn’t event take place in fall, that’s the second movie New Moon. After watching the movie not only was I craving the rest of the franchise, but I also had other movies I wanted to watch. The first few movies that came to mind was Girl, Interrupted, Black Swan and Lady Bird. None of them are really fall vibes, but I felt like this was the right time to watch them. They do all have a common denominator, they’re all kind of… sad?
Why do I want to watch sad movies during fall?
Natalie Portman as Nina in Black Swan (2010). Copyright: Fox Searchlight Pictures. Photo: IMDb
The weather outside gets gloomier by the day, so no wonder I want to stay inside and watch movies all day. I don’t really understand why the movies are so sad though. It makes more sense watching horror movies gearing up for Halloween, but I watch horror movies every other time of the year so now is the time for sad movies, also not everyone likes horror movies. Online you also see people have an emphasis on watching cosy movies during fall. I have absolutely no idea what makes a movie cosy, but I’m guessing a happy ending, at least. Some also want the movies to specifically take place in fall. I’m not as picky I just want sad girl cinema, which requires that either girls are sad in the movie or that girls get sad watching the movie.
There could be a few reasons why we tend to gravitate towards sadder movies during fall. One of them could simply be that as the days get darker and the weather gets worse; we just want the movies to reflect what’s going on outside, as we sit inside covered in blankets with a hot beverage in front of us. Another reason could be linked closer to our mood. I tend to gravitate towards sadder movies when I’m sad or depressed. This could be because it’s both more relatable and gets the emotions going. Sometimes depression and extreme sadness can make you almost feel numb to your own emotions and watching a sad movie might help you release something, maybe even cry a little. It also is kind of annoying to watch happy people when you feel like shit. You can feel sad and depressed all year round, but a lot of people do tend to get gloomier as the seasons change. There is a diagnosis called seasonal affective disorder (SAD) which is when a chemical change in your brain happens due to less access to sunlight. It usually affects older people and is often helped by antidepressants or light-therapy. I don’t personally struggle with seasonal depression, but I do still tend to feel a little less energy and enjoyment when fall and winter comes around. I do like those seasons a lot, but I think the lack of sunlight influence all of us even if its not as severe as SAD.
Are sad movies making us sadder?
Angelina Jolie as Lisa in Girl, Interrupted (1999). Copyright: Global Entertainment Productions GmbH & Co. Movie KG. Photo: IMDb
As I was watching the movie Girl, interrupted (great movie btw), my mind wandered as I was watching the aesthetics of the movie. Pretty girls in cool clothes with their interesting mental issues. Angelina Jolie has never looked as hot as in that movie. The girls all feel realistic yet airbrushed in some way. I found many of the girl struggles relatable as many others do, but I still can’t help but think that I don’t look that good at my worst. My style isn’t perfectly curated, nor am I sexy smoking a cigarette to curve my appetite or making taking anti-psychotics look aesthetically pleasing. Even Brittany Murphy looks cute hiding rotting chicken underneath her bed.
Laurie Metcalf and Saoirse Ronan in Lady Bird (2017). Copyright: A24, Universal Pictures and Focus Features. Photo: IMDb
I do sometimes despise the way sadness and mental issues are portrayed in cinema, especially when it’s about women. Manic pixies dream girls, emotional eating, substance abuse, etc. it’s all portrayed in a specific way. They’re cool, hot and interesting and if they’re not then we are meant to laugh at them. It’s not that the portrayals aren’t realistic at all, but it does sometimes make you feel even worse when your own sadness and issues don’t look like that. Having said all of this I’m still going to watch sad movies though. There is something indescribable that happens when you feel sad and mad at the world, then you watch Lady Bird and see her complicated relationship with her mother and deeply relate.
A list of more sad girl cinema for those interested here.