History TearJerker / ChickenRun

* At the end of the montage of the chickens building the crate, Babs jokingly calls Ginger "doll face" which Rocky used to do. Ginger clearly gets upset hearing this and looks over at his poster (which for some reason she didn't remove). It then cuts to Rocky far away somewhere, riding a tricycle as he sings "The Wanderer". He acts happy at first, then his expression changes as he sings ''"And when I find myself falling for some girl..."''. He's clearly thinking about Ginger too.

** After Bunty tells Ginger that the odds of their escaping were a million to one, Ginger replies sturdily, [[ArmorPiercingResponse "Then there's still a chance"]]. She steps out of the hut with her composure in tact... and breaks down crying as the weight of the whole situation crashes down on her. You truly feel her anguish when she punches the fence in hopeless frustration before slumping against it, muttering to herself "[[GodHelpUsAll Heaven help us]]".

** Ginger's HeroicBSOD when she discovers that not only has Rocky deserted them, but he could never fly. He was just shot out of a cannon. Not only does their last chance of escape ''and'' her one chance at love literally walk out on them, but they realize that [[AllForNothing all their hard work trying to learn to fly amounted to nothing]]. Ginger doesn't give up because she's sad, she gives up because ''she's finally out of options''.
---> '''Ginger''': (''[[DespairEventHorizon despairingly]]'') Let's face it. Our only way out of here... is wrapped in ''pastry''.

* [[BigNo Rocky's]] [[FutileHandReach reaction]] when Ginger is seemingly killed by Mrs. Tweedy. The next shot reveals that he started ''[[ManlyTears crying]]''.

* While you won't be RootingForTheEmpire, it's still sad to see Mr. Tweedy [[HenpeckedHusband get abused and ordered about constantly by Mrs. Tweedy]]. After getting a hard kick up the rear the last time he failed to fix the machine, we see him trying to activate it again, painfully feeling his rear while quietly begging for it to work. You may not necessarily want the man to succeed, but you do get the impression he's being treated unfairly and deserves a better wife than the monstrous woman he ended up marrying.

** This troper disagrees with the above point; yes, Ginger is the one who comes up with the plans, but she's also one of the more intelligent of the hens in the flock. She knows that if she didn't lay eggs, that it would quickly equal her going to the chop. She says herself that they can't give eggs to the rats because they're too valuable, and explains to Rocky that when they stop laying, they get killed. She knows that she needs to keep laying enough to be worth keeping alive. And before the pie machine comes into play, Mrs Tweedy wants to maximise profits - if a hen is still laying, then that hen is safe from the chop.

** This troper disagrees with the above point; yes, Ginger is the one who comes up with the plans, but she's also one of the more intelligent of the hens in the flock. She knows that if she didn't lay eggs, that it would quickly equal her going to the chop. She's the one with the most motivation to escape the farm once and for all, for that to happen she has to be alive.

-->'''Ginger:''' (''aghast'') ...What about ''Edwina?'' How many more empty nests will it take?!

-->'''Ginger:''' [[ArmourPiercingQuestion So laying eggs all your life, then getting plucked, stuffed and roasted is good enough for you, is it?]]

** It's also possible that if Edwina were to be able to lay eggs or she didn't refuse to lay them, then Ginger's life would have been in danger; since presumably, with Ginger coming up with all of the plans for everyone to escape, [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness she would probably be the chicken with the second-lowest production of eggs]]. It wouldn't help that Mr Tweedy would have a bone to pick with her for getting him in trouble with Mrs Tweedy, and if Ginger were to be killed, then Edwina probably thought it would be all over for both herself and the other chickens; so [[HeroicSacrifice she sacrificed herself so that Ginger and the other chickens could escape and live]]. Her fears and actions then would be justified in that without Ginger, the chickens wouldn't try to escape and they would all eventually be killed and eaten.

** With the above factors in mind, one conclusion is drawn: [[DespairEventHorizon Edwina was so miserable in the chicken pen that she purposely allowed herself to be chosen]] as a means of freedom [[DrivenToSuicide through what essentially amounts to suicide]]. Go watch that scene again and wonder if the expression on Edwina's face is fear... or anticipation?
*** The way she is not even resisting, but just meekly hangs there upside-down reinforced this.
---->(''thunk'')

* Depending on your view, you'll probably feel bad for Nick and Fetcher when they start crying over having to deploy the eggs at the climax scene, especially since they spent practically the whole movie scheming and wanting these eggs. It's basically like the equivalent of having to give up a possession that you have love so much.

** It's also possible that if Edwina were to be able to lay eggs or she didn't refuse to lay them, then Ginger's life would have been in danger; since presumably, with Ginger coming up with all of the plans for everyone to escape, [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness she would probably be the chicken with the second-lowest production of eggs]]. It wouldn't help that Mr Tweedy would have a bone to pick with her for getting him in trouble with Mrs Tweedy, and if Ginger were to be killed, then Edwina probably thought it would be all over for both herself and the other chickens; so [[HeroicSacrifice she sacrificed her own life so that Ginger and and the other chickens could escape and live]]. Her fears and actions then would be justified in that without Ginger, the chickens wouldn't try to escape and they would all eventually be killed and eaten.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/crt.JPG]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''We've got to get out of here.'']]

--> '''Ginger''': (''whispering'') Oh, no... [OhCrap Edwina...!]] (''horrified'') Bunty! Why didn't you give her some of yours?!

--> '''Ginger''': [[OhCrap Edwina...!]] (''horrified'') Bunty! Why didn't you give her some of yours?!

** The afore-mentioned slapstick mud-fight doesn't even phase her. She just quietly accepts that they're done for and there's nothing they can do to avoid their gruesome fate.

--> '''Bunty''': (''whispering'') I ''would'' have! But she didn't tell me! ''[[FaceDeathWithDignity She didn't tell anyone!]]''

--> '''Ginger''': (''[[DespairEventHorizon despairingly]]'') Let's face it. Our only way out of here... is wrapped in ''pastry''.

*** As she walks back, she passes several cheerful and eager hens, whose faces darken when they look at her. She hasn't said anything yet, and they can't see the poster piece; but they just know that if [[TheDeterminator Ginger]] of all chickens [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness looks that disheartened]], something has gone horribly, ''horribly'' wrong.

* Ginger is the ''only'' reason the rest of the chickens even consider escape as a possibility, let alone keep trying. As a result, she has to shoulder the burden of not only keeping everyone's spirits up (including her own) and creating new escape plans, but then taking the fall for them every time they fail, and it's shown to take it's toll on her. The chickens all panicking when she's taken to the pie machine and, later, the mud fight which ensues after Rocky deserts them shows just how immediately everything falls apart without Ginger's guidance.
-->"I ''care'' about what happens to them!"
** After Bunty tells Ginger that the odds of their escaping were a million to one, Ginger replies sturdily, [[ArmorPiercingResponse "Then there's still a chance."]] She steps out of the hut with her composure in tact... and breaks down crying as the weight of the whole situation crashes down on her. You truly feel her anguish when she punches the fence in hopeless frustration before slumping against it, muttering to herself "[[GodHelpUsAll Heaven help us]]."
** Shortly after hearing Edwina getting the "Chop," she watches a flock of migrating birds from the roof of her hut. With tears in her eyes, she whispers to herself "We've ''got'' to get out of here."
** Ginger's HeroicBSOD when she discovers that not only has Rocky deserted them, but he could never fly. He was just shot out of a cannon. Not only does their last chance of escape ''and'' her one chance at love literally walk out on them, but they realize that [[AllForNothing all their hard work trying to learn to fly amounted to nothing]]. Ginger doesn't give up because she's sad, she gives up because she's finally ''out of options''.

** Rocky, when everyone thinks that the flying demonstration he'll give them tomorrow will help them fully understand the process. You can tell he's absolutely miserable about how disappointed they're going to be when they learn that their problems are not going to be solved at all.

*** As she walks back, she passes several cheerful and eager hens, whose faces darken when they look at her. She hasn't said anything yet, they can't see the poster piece; but they just know that if [[TheDeterminator Ginger]] looks that disheartened, something has gone horribly wrong.
** Adding to it all as well is the [[https://youtu.be/5kaZCTJyvO4 immensely dramatic and depressing theme]] that flares up right [[WhamShot when Ginger completes the poster]]; punctuated by a bleak rainstorm setting in as the chickens slowly begin to put two and two together about everything. At this point, Rocky himself can be seen slowly trudging away from the farm -- having left his medal and the poster piece behind -- and you can ''feel'' [[ItsAllMyFault his absolute guilt and shame at building their hopes up]], only to abandon them when they needed him.

--> '''Bunty''': (''whispering'') I would have! But she didn't tell me! ''[[FaceDeathWithDignity She didn't tell anyone!]]''

*** 1) That morning, Edwina KNEW she was going to die.

*** 3) She willingly refused to inform anyone.

** It's also possible that if Edwina were to be able to lay eggs or she didn't refuse to lay them, then Ginger's Life would have been in danger since presumably with Ginger coming up with all of the plans for everyone to escape Ginger would probably be the chicken with the second lowest production of eggs and it wouldn't help that Mr Tweedy would have a bone to pick with her for getting him in trouble with Mrs Tweedy, and if Ginger were to be killed, then Edwina probably thought it would be all over for both herself and the other chickens so she sacrificed her own life so that Ginger and and the other Chickens could escape and live. Her fears and actions then would be justified in that without Ginger, the Chickens wouldn't try to escape and we they would all be turned into Chicken pies by Mrs Tweedy.

* The meeting in Hut 17. It's played for BlackComedy and is indeed very funny, but it also shows how much of a struggle it is for Ginger to keep moral up.

-->'''Ginger:''' ''(Aghast)'' ...What about ''Edwina''? How many more empty nests will it take?!

-->''({{Beat}})''

* While you won't be RootingForTheEmpire, it's still sad to see Mr. Tweedy get abused and ordered about constantly by Mrs. Tweedy. After getting a hard kick up the rear the last time he failed to fix the machine, we see him trying to activate it again, painfully feeling his rear while quietly begging for it to work. You may not necessarily want him to succeed, but you do think he's being treated unfairly and deserves a better wife than the monster he married.

* After Rocky calls Ginger "difficult" for her BrutalHonesty [[Jerkass Has a Point (while not wrong)]], he turns the corner and sees just how miserable all the chickens are. Most of them are staring at the ground, some are slumped against the huts, others are just wandering around in a daze or crying at the thought of their eventual fate. Bunty scoops up seed and lets it fall through her fingers. Meanwhile, Babs is ''knitting a noose.'' Again, it's played for BlackComedy, but the only reason it's funny is because all of their reactions are perfectly appropriate.

* After Rocky calls Ginger "difficult" for her brutal honesty, he turns the corner and sees just how miserable all the chickens are. Most of them are staring at the ground, some are slumped against the huts, others are just wandering around in a daze or crying at the thought of their eventual fate. Bunty scoops up seed and lets it fall through her fingers. Meanwhile, Babs is ''knitting a noose.'' Again, it's played for BlackComedy, but the only reason it's funny is because all of their reactions are perfectly appropriate.

* Edwina's death has an even deeper impact than possibly imagined with the simple exchange of dialogue between two characters.
--> '''Ginger''': ''(Whispering)'' Bunty! Why didn't you give her some of yours?!
--> '''Bunty''': ''(Whispering)'' I would have! But she didn't tell me! ''[[FaceDeathWithDignity She didn't tell anyone!]]''

** With the above factors in mind, one conclusion is drawn: Edwina was so miserable in the chicken pen that she purposely allowed herself to be chosen as a means of freedom through (what essentially amounts to) suicide. Go watch that scene again and wonder if the expression on Edwina's face is fear... or anticipation? *Thunk!*
*** The way she is not even resisting, but just meekly hangs there upside down reinforced this.

** Adding to it all as well is the [[https://youtu.be/5kaZCTJyvO4 immensely dramatic and depressing theme]] that flares up right [[WhamShot when Ginger completes the poster]]; punctuated by a bleak rainstorm setting in as the chickens slowly begin to put two and two together about their hopes being crushed. At this point, Rocky himself can be seen slowly trudging away from the farm -- having left his medal and the poster piece behind -- and you can ''feel'' [[ItsAllMyFault his absolute guilt and shame at building their hopes up]], only to abandon them when they needed him.

** Ginger's HeroicBSOD when she discovers that not only has Rocky deserted them, but he could never fly. He was just shot out of a cannon. Not only does their last chance of escape ''and'' her one chance at love literally walk out on them, but they realize that all their hard work trying to learn to fly amounted to nothing. Ginger doesn't give up because she's sad, she gives up because she's finally ''out of options''.
-->"Let's face it. Our only way out of here... is wrapped in pastry."
** Rocky when everyone thinks that the flying demonstration he'll give them tomorrow will help them fully understand the process. You can tell he's absolutely miserable about how disappointed they're going to be when they learn that their problems are not going to be solved at all.

** The afore-mentioned slapstick mudfight doesn't even phase her. She just accepts that they're screwed and there's nothing they can do about it.

** It's also possible that if Edwina were to lay eggs or she didn't refuse to lay them, then Ginger's Life would have been in danger, and if Ginger were to be killed, then Edwina probably thought it would be all over for both herself and the other chickens so she sacrificed her own life so that Ginger and and the other Chickens could escape and live.

* The meeting in Hut 17. It's played for BlackComedy and is indeed very funny, but it also shows how much of a struggle it is for Ginger to keep moral.