Movie and Television Moments That Make My Eyes Leak Each and Every Time

I've never really been much of a cheerleader for love. I'm a cynic, a realist, and a bit of an independent loner. Actually, let me explain this in a more honest way: I'm these ways when I'm around people. Behind closed doors, when no one's looking, I'm a hopeless romantic. I think about love at its best; that ridiculous love that consumes your entire being and makes zero sense. So, I got to thinking about movie moments that hit me right in that tender spot in my heart, the part that, I swear, in that moment, makes the rest of my heart want to leap right out of my chest. The lump in my throat starts to form. Tears spring along the corners of my eyes. This doesn't just happen once, but every time with certain movie moments. Unfortunately, you may judge my movie choices, but every time I have watched these movies, there is at least one scene that will have me sniffling and reaching for the tissues to wipe away my tears.

** SPOILER ALERTS! READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!**

Bonus TV moment

* The Office Christmas Special (2003)
Directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant

For two seasons, I watched Tim hopelessly look at Dawn with a mix of starry-eyed love and pained yearning. Then, she surprised the hell out of me at the end of season 2 when she, nonchalantly, announced she's moving away with Lee, her long-time fiance. In that moment, I swear I could feel Tim's heart break into tiny, little pieces. Then the Christmas Special comes along and the whole time, I'm watching and wondering if something is going to happen at this Christmas party. Eventually, Lee, in his callous and chauvinistic way, announces that he's tired and Dawn can open her present in the car on their way home. He sits in the front of the car, a few feet and millions of light years away from his fiance, who sits in the backseat. She opens her gift and it is a picture she doodled of Tim while they sat and talked about nothing and everything in just that way that Tim and Dawn do. There was also a note saying something to the effect of Don't give up on your dreams. Next you see Tim talking to Gareth and David back at the office party. The camera blurs just a bit to focus on Dawn in the background. She walks up to Tim and looks into his eyes. She says no words. She just kisses him and takes his hand and they walk away. GETS ME EVERY TIME!


5. Before Sunrise (1995)
Directed by Richard Linklater

I saw this movie a very long time ago. I saw it before I had ever been to Europe. I saw it back in the days when I thought that Julie Delpy was the most beautiful woman on Earth... and Ethan Hawke wasn't so bad either. I saw it so long ago that I forget their characters' names! But I do remember this one scene. The two characters met on a train during a European vacation and decided to spend the day together, just walking around Vienna, making it even more quaint and lovely. They stroll across bridges, they pop into little shops, drink wine in the park. It's the kind of situation anyone in their right mind would want to be in... minus the little fact that they really like each other and only have until morning to hang out. But there's this one part that just makes me a mush. They are wandering around a small record shop, browsing through the music and they take a record into a small listening room. They are standing side by side listening to this beautiful song and trying hard not to get caught looking at each other. It's so charming and innocent. You can feel the tension building between them as they can't help but take in each others' cuteness.


4. The Artist (2011)
Directed by Michel Hazanavicius

I recently went to see The Artist out at the theater with a friend of mine. I really enjoyed it. At points, it was so sad. After George tries to set his house on fire with him in it, he's carted off to the hospital (thank god for that cute dog!) and Peppy, who has never stopped loving him since the first time they met, goes to the hospital make sure he is ok. The nurse says that when they found him, he was clutching only one thing: a reel of film. When she held the film up to the light, she saw it was the time that they were shooting the movie together, doing that hopelessly touching dance scene; the point at which he began falling for her.



3. Sex and the City: the Movie
Directed by Michael Patrick King

Full disclosure: I am a huge Sex and the City fan. I have watched every episode more times than I can even begin to count. I will admit that when the movie came out, I wasn't all that into the idea. I saw it and thought... eh. That said, every now and then, when I am in a particular kind of mood, I will pop it in. There is one scene that has me in tears each and every time I see it. It's the scene where Miranda and Steve decide that they will pick a meeting spot and if they both show up, they will both put his infidelity behind them and move forward. With Al Green singing, How Can You Mend a Broken Heart, Miranda walks along the gorgeous Brooklyn Bridge, looking and hoping that the love of her life loves her enough to show up. Then she sees him, through the crowd. I just love Steve and Miranda so much; it's hard not to cheer for their love. They hug and kiss and walk off together holding hands. Amazing movie moment.


2. Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)
Directed by Blake Edwards

Audrey Hepburn plays the perfect adorable, lovable, yet unreachable, can't-quite-get-her-in-your-grasp girl. When the handsome writer, Paul, moves in above her, she takes a liking to him, but only in the way that Holly Golightly can. She is capable of loving, she has a cat that she simply calls Cat. But again, it's the only love that Holly can give. Holly and Cat assume their independent roles in each other's lives as they coexist in the same apartment. Holly loves this cat because she is the cat. She is unable to really be seen or loved or, to settle down. But, in private, she yearns. There's that balcony scene. Paul is up in his apartment writing. He's writing about Holly. Then he hears guitar-playing and sweet singing. He walks over to the window, opens it up and quietly watches her as she gazes into nothingness and sings Moon River by Henri Mancini. If I listen to that song, I get tears in my eyes, it's really lovely.


1. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Directed by Michel Gondry

I feel like people have very strong opinions about this movie. I am not afraid to say that I love this movie with mostly every fiber of my being. And there's one scene early on that is quite fetching. Joel and Clementine had 'just met' and he gave her a ride home. After spending the day with each other, they know that they like each other, but Joel is just so awkward. He gets up to leave. He walks out of the building and the snow is coming down around him as he starts up the street. Then you hear the window fly open. There is soft music playing that is most fitting for this movie moment that makes my eyes leak every time. Clem hangs out the window and calls after him that he should call her tomorrow because it is Valentine's Day... and that would be nice. I don't know if it's the simplicity of the request, the music, the snowy, dark February night, or the combination of all of these elements, but, in my opinion, I feel this is one of the perfect cinemagical moments. I swear, I can feel the snow fall on my nose and cheeks and hear Clem call through the softness of the snow. And, to me, that's what makes a moment perfect- when I can feel myself in that moment.


There it is. My list of movie and television moments that make my eyes leak each and every time. Fitting for this time of year, huh?