Why Americans Are Afraid Of Sad Endings
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

Why Americans Are Afraid Of Sad Endings

And what this tells us about our ideals.

387
Why Americans Are Afraid Of Sad Endings

America is known for putting out some great movies whether they be Hollywood blockbusters, Disney classics, or independent films. Going to the movies is a great pastime, a nice way to escape, laugh at nothing for a couple hours, maybe learn a lesson or two. But one thing that almost all American films have in common is a happy ending. The guy gets the girl, the hero defeats the villain, the lesson is learned. Even our tragedies leave the audience feeling hopeful due to some redeeming factor just after everything else falls apart. But the fact is that happy endings are unique to American film and cinema.

That’s not to say that foreign films never have happy endings. But if you do watch foreign films, you’ll find that many of them have endings that are just downright depressing. Antonio Ricci disgraces himself in front of his son and realizes that he will not be able to feed his family. Ju Dou burns herself alive after her son kills her lover. Michel gets shot after being sold out by the woman carrying his child. None of these endings offer any redemption for anyone. There is no hope at the end, no second chance, no lesson learned.

And the fact is that these are great movies. Two of the three movies I just mentioned are in the British Film Institute’s list of 50 greatest films. But why doesn’t America put films out like this? Why are we afraid of genuinely sad endings?

America was built on the hope of a better tomorrow. If you just work hard enough, you can achieve all of your dreams, you can build a good life for yourself and your loved ones. The land of hope and opportunity. And don’t get me wrong, I’m proud of that.I’m so thankful that I have the opportunity to clear my own path, follow my dreams, and make a good life for myself. But this is an American ideal and not all countries share it.

The appeal of foreign films like "Bicycle Thieves," "Ju Dou" and "Breathless" is that they reflect life. Sometimes, a lot of times, in fact, life can be pretty depressing. People die and there is no lesson learned. People betray their loved ones and act selfishly, and there is no forgiveness for them. People can’t always get what they need, much less what they want. Awful things happen and there isn’t always a reason for them. Americans don’t want to believe that.

So few of us know what it is to genuinely feel want. We’ve never experienced what it’s like to have our town bombed. We’ve never experienced what it’s like to live under a dictatorship. Most of us can say that we’ve always have food in our refrigerator and clothes on our backs. Of course, we have problems in our government. Of course, there is want and need in America. Of course, so many of us don’t feel safe, especially with the state our country is in. But we want to believe that we can fix these things if we just try hard enough, and that shows in our films.We always triumph in our films. Good overcomes evil. But that isn’t always the case in our world and this seems to be something that foreign films articulate especially well.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
the beatles
Wikipedia Commons

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

Keep Reading...Show less
Being Invisible The Best Super Power

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

19 Lessons I'll Never Forget from Growing Up In a Small Town

There have been many lessons learned.

70841
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

132442
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments