Helping each other with selfless compassion: 20 movies that depict strong bonds and show "love and care"

"Stagecoach"

humanity

A classic western that actually depicts the cooperation of care that transcends social status

Eight men and women are traveling together on a stagecoach. A pregnant woman goes into labor during the journey and the first person to help is a prostitute, who is looked down upon by the other passengers. This is the signal for the men to give coffee to a drunken doctor and have him assist with the birth. This film, known as a masterpiece of Western cinema, also depicts loving care.

The Miracle of Milan

humanity

A philanthropic community built by homeless people

Toto ends up staying with a homeless community by chance, but he doesn't give up even when his place is completely destroyed by a strong gust of wind. He smiles and cooperates with the residents to build a more livable living environment than before, and he is undoubtedly a philanthropist who accepts all kinds of people.

"The Miracle Worker"

humanity

Unyielding love makes the impossible possible

Based on the famous true story of blind, deaf, and mute Helen Keller and Miss Sullivan, the girl who tried so hard to teach her how to speak, this film shows us that with loving care and perseverance, the impossible can become possible.

"An Abnormal Night of White Skin"

love affair

When affection turns into love, a terrible tragedy occurs.

In the South at the end of the Civil War, a wounded Union soldier named John arrives at a self-sufficient girls' school that is off-limits to men. The women at the school decide to nurse him despite him being an enemy, but before they know it, the faint love they begin to feel for John as a man leads to tragedy. Care = love can sometimes be terrifying.

"Kramer, Kramer"

Parent-child love/marital love

Care work brings invaluable time with her son

Childcare and other caregiving duties have long been left to women. This film tells the story of a husband who, after his wife abandons this role, begins to seriously care for his son for the first time. He struggles with the unfamiliar role of caregiving, but also realizes how irreplaceable the time he spends with his son is.

"Frontline Story"

humanity

When the war ends, soldiers act to keep the enemy alive.

During World War II, a sergeant in the American army, engaged in fierce fighting against the German army, learns of the end of the war and, through teamwork with his comrades, tries to rescue a mortally wounded enemy soldier. Even soldiers who are ordered to kill by their country are human beings who learn to love when they are released from their duties.

Thelma & Louise

friendship

Women's friendship that allows us to live our lives as we want

Thelma, a housewife, escapes from her husband's shackles and goes on a drive with her best friend Louise, but an incident occurs and they are pursued by the police. With the help of the innocent Louise, Thelma is freed from the cage of "femininity" and awakens to her "true self." At the heart of their friendship is loving care.

Philadelphia

friendship

"Brotherly love" between men built beyond discrimination and prejudice

Beckett, a gay man infected with HIV, is fired from his job due to prejudice against his illness. He is helped in his lawsuit against his employer by a black lawyer who was a homosexual prejudice against men. Philadelphia means "brotherhood" in Greek, and there is no better word to describe the relationship between the two men.

My Friend Memory

friendship

Two boys complement each other's weaknesses to become "the stronger one"

Max, a large boy with a learning disability, and Kevin, a child genius with a serious illness, meet and hit it off. Max carries Kevin on his shoulders and the two embark on an adventure to various places. The two overcome hardships by compensating for each other's weaknesses, proving that 1 + 1 is not 2, but a stronger 1.

Pay it Forward: The Kingdom of Possibility

humanity

To make the world a better place, we need a chain of care

"When someone shows you kindness, do an act of kindness to three other people." One boy proposed this kind of chain-like idea for care in response to a class assignment: "If you wanted to change the world, what would you do?" Without even realizing it, the baton of love is passed on to others, making the world a little kinder.

"Josee, the Tiger and the Fish"

love affair

Not only living together, but choosing to separate is also love

University student Tsuneo falls in love with a disabled woman named Josee. There is a beautiful scene in which Tsuneo takes her, who tends to stay at home, out into the world in a stroller with a skateboard attached. The reason the two break up is because Tsuneo fears that Josee will become a burden to him. Love is not just about living together.

"Dendera"

friendship

A sisterhood of abandoned elderly women

At the age of 70, Kayu is abandoned in the snowy mountains, but just as she realizes she is about to die, someone appears to save her. In fact, a village of abandoned old women has been built in the mountains, where they live and help each other. The sight of them banding together to fight a ferocious brown bear is more compelling than any ordinary sisterhood movie.

"Amour"

marital love

Through the husband's caregiving, the film explores the complexities of love

One day, the wife of an elderly musician suddenly suffers a seizure and is forced to live in a wheelchair. She even develops dementia, and wishes for death. Despite this, her husband continues to care for her at home with all his love, but is the decision he makes in the end really out of love? The answer is left to the audience.

"The Impossible"

family love

What is the "disaster utopia" created by tsunami victims?

When a large-scale disaster strikes, temporary communities of humanity can form. This film, which depicts people caught in the tsunami caused by the Sumatra earthquake, beautifully depicts this phenomenon, sometimes called "disaster utopia," with scenes of victims themselves lending a hand to other victims.

Chocolate Donut

family love

A form of family love that cannot be defined by law

Gay couple Rudy and Paul take in Marco, an abandoned boy with Down's syndrome. However, the three of them build a family-like bond, but the legal barrier stands in their way. At the end of the film, Rudy expresses his anger, complaining about the foolishness of restricting love by the law.

Welcome to the Parade

humanity

The loving solidarity of those who have nothing can make a big difference in the world

This film tells the true story of how a gay group supported a coal miners' strike in Britain under Thatcher. The words of a coal miner's representative reveal much about the love of care: "When you're fighting an enemy much bigger than yourself, it's the greatest feeling to know that somewhere, a friend you don't know is cheering you on."

"Wonder, You Are the Sun"

Family love/friendship

"We all need to help each other because we're not normal"

Auggie, whose face is deformed due to a serious illness, is bullied at school, but he is able to stay positive thanks to the support of his family and friends. However, they too have their own worries and find comfort in Auggie. The realization Auggie has at the end of the story is important when thinking about how we should help each other. "Not everyone is 'normal'."

"The Two Who Can't Go Home"

Love/Humanity

Consideration that transcends romantic feelings is called "the obligation of the world"

"Why are you helping me?" Towards the end of this film, which chronicles the 17 years of a man and woman who are unable to be together due to a twist of fate, a man appears in a wheelchair and asks this question to the woman who is caring for him. The woman's response, while clumsy, is an attempt to convey a love that transcends romantic feelings. It's, she says, "the obligation of the world."

Sandra's Little House

humanity

"Mehal" is the Irish spirit of helping each other.

Helping others helps you. This spirit of mutual help is called "mehal" in Irish. Set in Ireland, this film depicts a woman who flees her abusive husband with her daughter, becomes fed up with the ineffective public support available, and builds her own home with the help of her neighbors.

Tori and Rokita

Family love/friendship

Even if we are not related by blood, we have a relationship that can only be described as family.

Rokita and Tori, immigrants living in Belgium, act like siblings, but in fact they are not related by blood. However, the way they prioritize each other over themselves and care for each other at all costs teaches us that in a family where we share a common destiny, there are things more important than blood ties.