Heartbreaking Asian films
 

I'm sort of in the mood lately for Asian dramas that feature heartbreak and loneliness.

I was hoping more in the flow of films such as:
Last Life in the Universe
Fallen Angels
Il Mare

Thanks!!!

I loved Failan.

:o

Pro-B

Definitely check out As Tears Go By and Days of Being Wild, Wong Kar-Wai's first two films.

If you are looking for heartbreaking films these might interest you, check out:

Lover's Concerto
...ING
Fly Me to Polaris
C'est La Vie Mon Cheri
Grave of the Fireflies (this one is anime, but this one is really heartbreaking, depressing, and deals with loneliness.)

I totally agree with Fly Me to Polaris. Such a sad movie. :(

A Summer at Grandpa's.

Christmas in August

Lost in Time had heartbreaking moments. It's nothing like Fallen Angels though (possibly my favorite film ever). Try the first half of Chungking Express too.

<b>LAVENDER
THE POET
METADE FUMACA
DITTO</b>

I was really disappointed by Ditto. The acting was so unbearably cheesy and sappy that it nullified what little impact was in the movie.

I don't know if you've seen JSA, but that's a pretty heartbreaking film. It's not really along the lines of some of these films, but it's a pretty sad tale of friends separated as enemies.

Definitely Grave of the Fireflies. Failan and Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance are both good too.

Loneliness and alienation? Anything by Tsai Ming-Liang. The Hole is a good start.

WKW's Happy Together is beautiful too. Don't let the homosexuality fool you. I take it you have seen In The Mood for Love already....

JSA(Joint Security Area) is a lovely story of brotherhood and comradeship. I recommend it too.

Love Letter does it for me.

Totally Love Letter, was just about to post this title myself.

I will add Shiki-Jitsu to the list. Absolutely great movie.

Kikujiro

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0199683/

From IMBD

Brash, loudmouthed and opportunistic, Kikujiro hardly seems the ideal companion for little Masao who is determined to travel long distances to see the mother he has never met. Their excursion to the cycle races is the first of a series of adventures for the unlikely pair which soon turns out to be a whimsical journey of laughter and tears with a wide array of surprises and odd ball characters to meet along the way.

Dark Water

Try JULIET IN LOVE. Solid performances from Francis and Sandra Ng

How about "Tian yu", also known as "Xiu Xiu: The Sent-Down Girl"?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115005/

Described by one reviewer as "Beautiful, moving and very sad.." And I would agree.

(Otoh another reviewer described it as "basically softcore porn for sadists" - so you can't keep everybody happy I suppose.)

Hemulen

Maybe "To Live" ? That movie is more heartbreaking than it is about lonliness. I second (third?) Failan and a big second for Comrades: Almost a Love Story. Comrades is very very high on my list of China/HK movies that everyone should see.

Someone took my answer, so I'll drop "The Isle"

Happy End, starring Choi Min-Sik from Failan and Oldboy. It's definitely a unique movie about bad choices and heartbreak, although one could argue it goes from heartbreaking to all-out depressing.

I can't believe that no one has mentioned In the Mood For Love...

I also liked Samaria, a bit dark, but good...

"To Live" has to be the most heartbreaking Asian film I have ever seen.

I would also recommend "Raise The Red Lantern". Might be hard to find a copy of the DVD though.

One Fine Spring Day. Very life-like. For some, it may mean boring. For others it's probably too painful to watch since it brings back memories of all the break-ups.

I second the suggestion for To Live. Not exactly heartbreaking since at the end, it's very uplifting.

Samaria, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, Old Boy - great movies - but are not exactly heartbreaking. They're tragic.

Failan and Grave of the Fireflies are truly heartbreaking!