I've been known to blubber whilst watching many a movie (and many a YouTube video, often where the death of a pet is announced). Frankly, I've been known to bawl my head virtually right the way off. (I will never, ever watch 'Bridge to Terabithia' ever again. Ever.)
But sometimes my spouse turns to look at me when, say, a character dies in a movie, to check how I'm doing. And he can't seem to fathom why I'm -sometimes- not crying after the loss of a main character.
This YouTuber has an interesting take on why the loss of 'Wilson' in 'Castaway' is such a tearjerker moment.
I'm inclined to disagree a little bit with his conclusion. But I do agree it is a tearjerking moment.
For me, it's the reaction(s) of the survivor(s). I cry every time I watch 'Lord of the Rings', despite knowing that Gandalf actually returns. And it's because of the reactions of the hobbits to his initial loss (they, of course, think he's dead in that moment).
And every time I re-watch 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' (the series, which is my comfort re-watch) I blubber during that one episode, 'The Body', despite knowing it's coming. (Actually, this last re-watch I made the decision to skip it because of the emotions it provokes in me.)
It needs to be a good performance, of course. If a movie or series has sub-par acting it doesn't have the same impact. (But there again, if it's a sub-par movie/series it's generally difficult to persevere watching it anyways.)
The loss of Wilson is emotional for me because Tom Hanks' portrayal of the anguish of that moment is so convincing. Yes, it's an inanimate object. But it's also been Chuck's only companion all this time. And now Chuck's forced to part with Wilson, or else give up his bid for rescue and salvation. It's all or nothing for Chuck. And now he's got to brave it alone. (Of course, he's been alone with a volleyball all this time, but you get what I mean.)
I disagree with Peaked Interest over on YouTube that the loss of Wilson represents the loss of hope. I think it represents, as mentioned, the scale of what's at stake for Chuck on his raft ride to freedom. This is a one time deal, either Chuck makes it or he dies trying. You might say that Chuck has to let go of the 'safety blanket' that Wilson has been, in order to free himself to reach out for the hope of civilisation. He can't have both. He can't have the-devil-you-know of castaway island, and this chance to return home. He has to throw in his entire lot on this voyage.
Or maybe it's simply that I empathise so much with Chuck's sense of loss. I'm a highly neurotic person (to use a bit of an outdated term), with a history of attaching too much sentiment to objects. That's something I'm trying to work on, actually, as I've got a lengthy de-cluttering journey ahead of me in my home. (Things are just things; often they can be replaced, and even if they can't that doesn't erase the memory of the thing and what it represents.)
For me, it's not the fact of the death of Joyce in that episode which triggers the sadness. It's that her loved ones are bereft, and I can feel it through the actors' performances.
If the script doesn't incorporate a focus on the effects of that grief on the survivors, it doesn't give rise to the same emotional reaction in me.
As is often said about pain, though: it's a signal that you're alive. And I've been learning about 'sitting with' uncomfortable emotions, and about distress tolerance lately. So there's something to be said for watching media which makes you sad, beyond just appreciating a good performance by an actor.
By the way, if you or someone you know is too young to have seen Castaway I highly recommend it. It's aged well and is definitely worth a watch. (Sorry for the mild spoilers above.)
🕯 Rest in peace precious Greebie and Toffee. 🕯
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