It’s big, the power of cinema. It is a medium that educates, that entertains, that takes us to different worlds. It has the power to make us feel relaxed, happy, sad. And the right movie can change our mood, our day, or even our lifetime.
Sometimes we get home from work or from everyday chores and we feel tired just by thinking about tomorrow. On days like this, we wish we could have something to boost our morale. It could be anything. A snack we like, a work of art that we enjoy, talking to a person we really love.
And the right film has the power to make us see the world in different eyes. So, we have chosen feel-good movies that can change our mood and -why not?- our lives.
It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)
Well, the title says it all. A desperate businessman finds unexpected help from an angel that comes to earth to show him how life would be if he never existed. The classic film by Frank Capra is a celebration of life and shows that light can come even at the bleakest moments.
Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
Who isn’t tempted of leaving their umbrella behind and start dancing in the rain like Gene Kelly in the classic Hollywood musical? Well, there is not a chance that I will see this movie and not feel uplifted or happy. It’s a great reminder of feeling happy even when it rains (the symbolism is evident here). Singin’ in the Rain was the film that Americans needed after the war. But it’s a sign of a great movie the fact that six decades later it can still make us feel all warm inside.
The Artist (2011)
Funny and heartwarming, the film by French director Michel Hazanavicius is an ode to change. How cinema -and life itself- changes and how we need to find our spot in the world. It’s silent, but it has everything one could hope for. Love, show, cinema.
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)
A high school student wants to spend a day off school and will do so no matter what the principal thinks. An inspirational movie that will make you understand that life isn’t just about following rules. It’s also full of friends, fun, and hope.
Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
A young girl and her quirky family take a trip in order to go to a beauty pageant. During the course of their trip, they will find out that depending on loved ones is the most important thing in life. The feel-good movie will make you want to call your family immediately after you watch it.
Mary Poppins (1964)
Well, “a spoon full of sugar makes the medicine go down”. Mary Poppins says it (rather she sings it) and who are we to argue with Mary Poppins? The Disney musical is full of color, singing, dancing and it is the best remedy after a difficult day.
Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001)
We are all looking for that special someone that will love us “just the way we are”. Well, Bridget Jones found him and it’s amazing Mr. Darcy (played by Colin Firth). We all need some romance in our lives and Bridget Jones’s Diary offers more than that. It’s the triumph of the average person, the fairytale with the “happily ever after”.
Big Hero 6 (2014)
When things get difficult and dark, we all need a big hug from someone who can mend our heart. Enter Baymax the amazing inflatable robot in Big Hero 6, who can find our emotional problem and try to fix it. If only we could have a Baymax in our real life.
The Intouchables (2011)
This French movie is the definition of feel-good cinema. A quadriplegic aristocrat hires a young man as his caretaker. The latter is often offensive and doesn’t buy into self-pity but soon a strong friendship forms between the two men. Based on true events, the movie is about finding a silver lining.
Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
The story of the underdog who wins it all is extremely popular. There is a good reason for that: everyone loves it. In the Oscar-winning film by Danny Boyle, a young man from Mumbai manages to win big in a TV game show and remembers his difficult upbringing.
