The 10 saddest films about musicians that will tear you apart

The life of a professional musician It’s rarely easy. Because of this, many films about musicians end up being quite tragic stories. Of course, that doesn’t stop the public from flocking to see them. Something about the trials and tribulations of those trying to make it in the music industry is endlessly appealing to viewers; perhaps because of the fascinating contrast between the glamor of achieving fame through music and the almost impossible path to getting there.

Whether they highlight musicians who rose to stardom but died tragically young, or talented artists who never received the recognition they deserved.All these films portray touching stories of those who only sought to bring joy to the world through their songs. All these films, whether true stories or fictional tales, are bound to break the hearts of the audience again and again. However, it’s hard not to admire the inspiring nature of their stories, sad as they may be.

10

Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)

Directed by Joel Coen and Ethan Coen

The 2013 film by the Coen brothers, Inside Llewyn Davisis a moving slice-of-life story about a struggling folk singer just trying to survive. Although it is partly inspired by real events, the film is fictional, although this in no way diminishes its emotional power. Inside Llewyn Davis stars Oscar Isaac as the titular folk singer, who viewers watch as he goes through a typical week of his life, with nowhere to live and almost no money to survive the next day.

The sadness at the center of Inside Llewyn Davis lies in the singer’s persistent inability to take a break. Viewers are shown that Davis is an incredibly talented artist, but an endless stream of unfortunate circumstances continually prevents him from getting the appreciation and rewards he deserves. Each strained relationship, financial loss, and disappointing venture continues to increase the despair felt by the protagonist. Inside Llewyn Davis is a tragic look at the bitter reality of the music industry for so many individuals.

9

A Star Is Born (2018)

Directed byBradley Cooper

Although the film has been remade several times over the years, the most recent (and perhaps most popular) iteration of A star is born is the 2018 version, which Bradley Cooper directed and starred in, alongside Lady Gaga. The film tells the story of an elderly musician with alcohol problems who meets and falls in love with a fellow musical artist, helping her use her talents to launch her own successful music career.While the story can be seen as inspiring and romantic, there is also an undeniable element of tragedy to it.

Without revealing the details, the conclusion of the A star is born is certainly one of the most emotionally devastating endings to end a film about a musician. The pure, uplifting feel of the love story only further adds to the tragic nature of the ending. This Oscar-winning version of the beloved and timeless story proves that some stories never fail to break their listeners’ hearts, no matter how many times they’ve been told.

8

Last Days (2005)

Directed by Gus Van Sant

Goodwill Hunt director Gus Van Sant is no stranger to capturing sadness in film, which makes him an excellent choice to take over the director’s chair for Last days. As the title suggests, the film follows a musician’s melancholic last days before it is finally discovered that he took his own life. Although the story and specific characters are fictional, the concept was inspired by the death of Nirvana protagonist Kurt Cobain, whose tragic end is well known to anyone interested in the music industry.

Last days it achieves its profound sadness through the sheer, depressing believability of its story. Other than escaping from his rehab clinic early on, nothing overly dramatic or unusual happens to the main character. He gets phone calls about his band, avoids people he doesn’t want to talk to, and goes to a rock club at night. None of these events seem particularly unusual, but there is still a lingering sadness in the air around the character. The perpetual sadness continues throughout the film’s moving conclusion, even though the audience already knew what would happen.

7

La La Land (2016)

Directed by Damien Chazelle

Sometimes the greatest sadness only comes after the greatest happiness. This seems to be the case La La TerraDamien Chazelle’s six-time Oscar-winning hit. The film stars Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling as Mia and Sebastian, an aspiring actress and an aspiring jazz musician (respectively). The two meet and begin a fairytale Hollywood romance, but it gradually falls apart as they each pursue their dreams.

The film moves from an upbeat musical to a darker (but still impressive) commentary on the true cost of success. The complex and vibrant ending of La La Terra has a huge emotional impact, especially for viewers who thought Mia and Sebastian would get back together.

6

Selena (1997)

Directed by Gregório Nava

Latin music fans will know that a biopic about the life of Selena Quintanilla-Perez (better known simply as Selena) is bound to end with major heartbreak. Directed by Gregório Nava, Selena explores the life of the popular singer, from her humble beginnings to her tragic death.

Much of the film is deeply inspiring and beautiful, tenderly portraying the closeness of Selena’s family and friends during her rise to fame. Selena was killed at just 23 years old, after being shot by her friend and former manager, Yolanda Saldivar, over a dispute over the management of the artist’s finances.

Although much of the film Selenafocuses on Selena’s career and relationships before the tragic incidentdoes not shy away from the harsh reality of how his life came to an end. The final scenes of Selena are moving, a feeling amplified by the knowledge that the film is a true story.

5

The Pianist (2002)

Directed by Roman Polanski

Adrien Brody won an Oscar for his portrayal of Władysław Szpilman in the 2002 biopic, The pianist. Szpilman was a Polish-Jewish pianist, forced to endure years of unimaginable hardship during the Holocaust. The revealing film offered a brutally realistic depiction of the horrors that plagued Poland during the 1940s.

Even when virtually everything in his life was taken away or destroyed, Szpilman never abandoned his ties to music. His musical gifts proved to be part of what kept him alive despite the immeasurable loss around him. Audiences are reminded of this by his final, powerful performance at the film’s conclusion. The pianist demonstrates the role of music in even the darkest chapters of history, portraying the moving true story of a man who, like so many others, lost everything during World War II.

4

Love and Mercy (2014)

Directed by Bill Pohlad

Alternating between two distinct phases of the singer’s life, Love and Mercy explores the complicated life and career of Brian Wilson, co-founder of the Beach Boys. Portrayed at different times by Paul Dano and John Cusack, the film delves into Wilson’s mental struggles, depicting his severe panic attacks as well as his strained relationship with his manipulative therapist. The film offers an insightful glimpse into the difficult life that inspired many iconic songs.

Part of what it does Love and Mercy such a sad film is the realization of how starkly Wilson’s real life differed from much of the music he made with his band. The Beach Boys are best known for their upbeat, harmony-filled tracks like “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” and “Surfin’ USA.” While these songs are fun and dance-worthy, the reality of Wilson’s life was much darker. Love and Mercy serves as a powerful reminder that musicians’ lives are often far more complex than the songs they’re known for.

Directed by Darius Marder

Darius Marder’s 2019 Oscar-winning film, metal soundsheds light on an issue that affects many people around the world, especially musicians. The film follows a heavy metal drummer named Ruben Stone as he discovers he is losing his hearing. This leads Ruben to reevaluate every aspect of his life, including his career, his relationships and even his own identity. The film effectively captures the intense emotions of a musician who is forced to question whether he can continue doing what he loves.

The deep sadness of metal sound lies in the idea of ​​having to completely restructure your life because of something you had almost no control over. As an audience member, it’s hard not to put yourself in Ruben’s shoes and imagine how you would have reacted to the same news. The film offers a very realistic portrayal of individuals pursuing their musical dreams, making Ruben’s pain and sadness even more believable.

2

Tick, Tick… Boom! (2021)

Directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda

Based on the show of the same name by Jonathan Larson Tick, Tick… Boom! is a musical film about Larson’s own life, highlighting the musician/songwriter’s desperate attempts to find success on the Broadway stage. Although filled with lively musical numbers, the film maintains an overall sad tone, highlighting Larson’s professional rejections and strained relationships while also addressing the pervasive influence of the AIDS crisis in America.

The widespread sadness of Tick, Tick… Boom! is driven by knowledge of Larson’s short life, which inspired the film. Larson eventually found success on Broadway with his Tony- and Pulitzer-winning musical, Rent, that permanently changed the world of musical theater. Tragically, Larson passed away at just 35 years old, shortly before Rent could have its Broadway debut. The film constantly reminds the audience how little time all humans are given on Earth (with some getting even less than others).

1

Once (2007)

Directed by John Carney

Before he could make the upbeat musical film Sing StreetJohn Carney wrote and directed a film that explored the idea of ​​a music-driven romance in a much more dramatic sense. Once follows the story of two characters, Guy and Girl, who meet and fall in love in Dublin. They spend the film creating music together, bonding through shared gifts. In a surprising twist, though, the characters don’t end up together in the end; Guy goes to London to reunite with his ex-girlfriend, and Girl reunites with her previously absent husband

The conclusion of Once it’s terribly sad, as the audience spends the entire film up to that point watching their bond grow. Then, unexpectedly, they go their separate ways, looking unlikely to see each other again. The sadness is compounded by the fact that the pair can’t even say goodbye. Their tender romance simply disappears as easily as it arrived. While it’s a heartbreaking story from beginning to end, viewers should be prepared for moments of true heartbreak when watching Once.