Sometimes, nothing hits quite so hard like a good ol’ sad flick. While on the surface these films can be categorised by the amount they’ll turn you into a sobbing mess, dig a little deeper and you’ll discover profound reflections of honest humanity at their core. From the collapse of romance to all-consuming grief, stories about family to ones about chosen families, these films come with a serious warning of heartbreak. Spy our picks below… and proceed with caution.

OF AN AGE This 2022 cinematic masterpiece is a must-watch for anybody with a beating heart. Written and directed by Macedonian-Australian filmmaker Goran Stolevski, this top-notch creative casually released three – we repeat: THREE – sensational feature films in the span of two calendar years. If you thought the Australian film industry was dead, think again. Of An Age – perhaps Goran’s most acclaimed film – is a tale of love, belonging, friendship and, of course, growing up. Do yourself a favour and watch this film, pronto.

CASABLANCA A love story to end all love stories, Michael Curtiz’s 1942 Casablanca is a favourite in the hearts of many soppy romantics for good reason. Starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, the film is set in the midst of World War II – and released a mere three years before the war came to an end. While livelihoods are on the line and heroes rise in efforts of resistance against the Nazis, the tale at the centre of this flick is one of love. Boasting some of the best lines in film history – “Here’s looking at you, kid” – and a widely beloved (although bittersweet) ending, Casablanca is a diamond that shines bright, thanks to some of the worst imaginable pressures.

CLOSE This is the kind of film that will rip you to shreds, over and over and over again. The 2022 coming-of-age Danish film by Lukas Dhont follows the close friendship of two teenage boys whose love for each other knows no bounds. Lingering on the fragile edges of childhood, Léo and Rémi don’t second-guess the optics of their intimate friendship as they run around their parents’ flower farm. Until they do. Beautifully shot and delicately written, Close will rip your heart apart and then stitch it back together.

BEGINNERS Mike Mills’ 2010 semi-autobiographical film Beginners weaves a tapestry of two stories around its central character, Oliver – played by Ewan McGregor. Also starring the legendary Christopher Plummer and Mélanie Laurent, what this story really comes down to is the idea of – you guessed it – beginnings. Oliver grapples with his own relationships as they begin and end, again and again, just as he simultaneously witnesses his 75-year-old father in the same cycle. A film about family, love and loss, it’s also a nice reminder that every day is a new opportunity for a beginning.

ALL WE IMAGINE AS LIGHT All We Imagine as Light is less interested in plot and more interested in feelings – and boy oh boy, are there a lot of feelings in this gorgeous film. A beautiful exploration of identity and belonging, written and directed by Payal Kapadia, this dreamy flick centres sisterhood and friendship at its core. Set in modern-day Mumbai, the film follows three nurses as they navigate life in a city far away from their hometowns, each followed by their own ghosts and memories. Come for the stunning cinematography and beautiful score; stay for the story of deep platonic love.