Browse Scenes

American Gangster

by Steven Zaillian

Harlem crime boss Bumpy Johnson laments the loss of personal service and the rise of corporate monopolies in America shortly before suffering a fatal heart attack. His protégé, Frank Lucas, watches helplessly as the man who mentored him dies in a cold, impersonal department store.

Analyze That

by Peter Tolan, Harold Ramis, Kenneth Lonergan

A powerful mob boss seeks urgent psychiatric help from a reluctant therapist after suffering from sudden impotence and emotional outbursts. The scene explores the clash between the gangster's hyper-masculine world and the vulnerability required for therapy, as the doctor tries to maintain professional boundaries while being intimidated.

The Honourable Woman

by Hugo Blick

Nessa Stein confronts the man responsible for the most traumatic events of her life, including her kidnapping and the death of her brother. Zahid Al-Zahid tests her morality with a knife while Nessa reveals her deep-seated guilt and sense of deserved suffering. The scene culminates in a high-stakes negotiation for the release of a child, highlighting Nessa's newfound resolve.

Peaky Blinders

by Steven Knight

Thomas Shelby prepares to execute his friend and fellow soldier, Danny, to prevent a gang war with the Italians. Danny, suffering from severe PTSD, accepts his fate while Thomas promises to care for Danny's family and provide them with a life away from violence.

Mulholland Drive

by David Lynch

Betty, a bright-eyed aspiring actress newly arrived in Los Angeles, discovers a mysterious, concussed woman hiding in her aunt's apartment. As Betty tries to offer help, it becomes clear that the woman, who calls herself Rita, is suffering from amnesia following a traumatic car accident.

A Crowded Room

by James Cameron

Two legal or medical professionals debate whether their subject is a master manipulator or suffering from a genuine dissociative identity disorder. The stakes are high as they realize the difficulty of proving a psychological illness in a court of law despite their own growing belief in the patient.

The Three Sisters

by Anton Chekhov

Vershinin delivers a philosophical and hopeful vision of the future to the Prozorov sisters. He argues that while their current lives may feel stagnant or full of suffering, they are laying the essential groundwork for a beautiful world that their descendants will one day enjoy.

Uncle Vanya

by Anton Chekhov

Sonya attempts to comfort her despairing uncle by offering a vision of peace and spiritual redemption after a lifetime of toil. She argues that their current suffering and hard work will be rewarded in the afterlife, where they will finally find the rest that eludes them now.

The Cherry Orchard

by Anton Chekhov

Trofimov, the 'eternal student,' passionately explains to Anya the moral cost of their family's wealth and the necessity of labor to redeem Russia's past. He urges her to abandon her aristocratic life and embrace a future of freedom and suffering for the sake of a coming happiness.

Oedipus Rex

by Sophocles

After discovering the horrific truth of his lineage and the fulfillment of the prophecy, Oedipus emerges from the palace having blinded himself. He laments his existence and begs to be exiled from Thebes to end his suffering.

Jerusalem

by Michael Gurr

Nina delivers a sharp, cynical critique of the concept of karma and divine justice to Malcolm. She argues that believing people get what they deserve is a form of intellectual laziness and a way for the fortunate to feel smug while the suffering are silenced.

Addams Family Values

by Paul Rudnick

During a forced Thanksgiving pageant at summer camp, Wednesday Addams goes off-script to deliver a scathing indictment of colonialism before leading a revolt. She contrasts the future suffering of indigenous people with the mundane luxuries of the pilgrims.

Hamlet

by William Shakespeare

Prince Hamlet contemplates the nature of existence, the pain of life, and the fear of the unknown in death. This philosophical soliloquy explores the tension between enduring suffering and seeking an end to it through suicide.

Jerusalem

by Michael Gurr

Nina, a medical professional, delivers a scathing intellectual critique of karma and divine justice. She argues that such spiritual beliefs are merely a form of smug complacency that ignores the reality of human suffering and personal responsibility.

Jane the Virgin

by Jennie Snyder Urman

Jane spirally processes the impossible news that her late husband, Michael, is actually alive but suffering from amnesia. She frantically debates her legal status, her identity as a widow, and the impact this has on her current relationship and her son.