Misery loves company

Faced with devastating news, I always wonder whether to run away or wallow. As much as I enjoy escapism, however, typically, I opt for immersion, a cinematic implosion therapy, choosing to watch movies to make myself sadder. There’s got to be something cathartic about crying… more, right? So, while TLoML and I cope with the loss of her beloved dog, we may also test our tear ducts. I’m thinking Blue Valentine, but we may just stay in.

This got me thinking about my favorite downbeat short films of all time and I feel compelled to share two titles with you. If you can find them, please do watch them. They are among the best films of any length I’ve ever seen.

Hollie Lavenstein‘s CLEAVE is a brutal rendering of the most vindictive tendencies of a broken heart, a suspenseful tale that surprises, even though it marches steadily towards its awful end. More devastating, Hilde van Mieghem‘s DE SUIKERPOT, which chronicles the fragile happiness of a little girl living with a drunken, impotent father whom she idolizes and a stern, yet caring mother whom she fears. When I first saw the short at the Seattle International Film Festival at the Harvard Exit, I had to stay in my seat when the lights came up because I was bawling… and continued to do so for another ten minutes. When I screened the film for another audience a year later, I had the same response. Even talking about it I can get misty, as I do when I look at my daughter who looks similar to the young actress.

I believe that we should embrace sadness when it comes; our acceptance of the emotion more critical to our happiness than, well, happiness.