Greatest Tearjerkers of All Time According to Filmsite - Page 9

"There are many kinds of touching, emotionally stirring films and dramas that bring a tear to the eye, and cause a swelling in the heart. Pathos-filled tales of doomed or short-lived romance, tragic deaths or losses, recovery of life, love, or dignity, or difficult domestic situations are common plot themes. Tearjerker plots with heart-tugging, emotional storylines usually emphasize sensational situations or crises of human emotion, failed romance or friendship, strained familial situations, tragedy, illness, neuroses, or emotional and physical hardship within everyday life. The melodramatic format allows the character(s) to work through their difficulties or surmount the problems with resolute endurance, sacrificial acts, and steadfast bravery. Sports films tend to be for men what melodramas are for women, and both often share the same attributes." - filmsite.org