10 Movies It's Impossible To Finish Without Crying

6. 12 Years A Slave

You won't believe how much salt and water your tear ducts can produce after a viewing of 12 Years a Slave. The alarmingly true story of Solomon Northup, a free African American man by birth who is kidnapped in 1841 and sold into slavery, Chiwetel Ejiofor gave a subtle, powerful performance as Northup, and justifiably won a Best Actor BAFTA for his work. His dignity in the face of overwhelming hardship is none more apparent than when he finally gives in and joins a spiritual chant of "Roll, Jordan Roll" at the grave of a fellow captive, all pained acceptance and personal empowerment at the same time.

Brutal in its depiction of the horrors of slavery, the tears come readily during 12 Years a Slave; after witnessing mothers get separated from their children, innocent young women being raped by men who deem them property, and a man who first apologises to his family for his shabby appearance before embracing them after more than a decade of forced servitude, audiences soon found themselves with no more tears left to cry. 12 Years a Slave is an important film that needed to be made, and its power lies in its ability to not only educate, but to form a striking emotional connection with people of any race or creed. Director Steve McQueen was rightly nominated for an Oscar, if cheated out of it by the director of another entry on this list.