The Elephant Man

David Lynch, 1980 (suom. "Elefanttimies")

This film is surely one of the greatest eye-drainers ever made for the empathetic out there. Reading about it, I've noticed many people touched by the theme of human cruelty towards a different individual. What I found the most touching was the fate of a sensitive and purely good-hearted individual having it impossible to live in society at all. The (voice) acting of John Hurt touched me deeply and my great favorite Anthony Hopkins makes a truly wonderful role too with his ethical struggle: is he one of the curious viewers (bad people) too having actively presented the Elephant Man to the medical society? He is genuinely empathetic yet still an intelligent expert in his role, and thus needs to stay somewhat emotionally distant from the Elephant Man. The ending was actually quite predictable (what else could it all lead to?) yet Barber's Adagio is, simply put, heart-crushing. Despite not being a general fan of Lynchian dreamy scenes, the very final scene with the words of the Elephant Man's mother echoing in the air with the last tones of Adagio ringing in the background... it is just one of the most beautiful movie moments I have ever witnessed. In my experience, the words the mother utters turn into poetic expression because all meaningful words have been used and nothing can be said anymore yet the emotion just lasts.

By the way, I once read a very funny e-post from someone about this film; he said something like: "What is this s**t?!? I've seen Spiderman, Superman, Batman... but 'Elephant Man'?? Get out of here!"