The first to leap to mind is "The Last Emperor." Of course there are hundreds of movies that could be named, Casablanca, braveheart, Heat of the Night, many John Wayne, yes John Wayne movies, but...
Only The Last Emperor moves me to tears every time I watch it.
There is something about that little boy, an infant, literally becoming Emperor before realizing what a burden it is. He resents it as he finds himself manipulated by various court factions then finds he is Emperor in name only. What follows is a descent into decadence and the loss of family and faith. The final insulte is him being used as a figurehead for the Manchu movement.
It is the end that always gets me though.
long after he's been overthrown and re educated he takes a tour of the forbidden city like any other communist citizen. Underneath his old throne is the cricket he played with as that lonely child all those years ago. still alive. It's an impossible thing of course that moves him and in turn me to tears every time.
I'm such a wuss!
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