History TearJerker / ChickenRun

* The meeting in Hut 17. It's played for BlackComedy and is indeed very funny, but it also shows that Ginger is the only one who hasn't given up on escaping altogether.

** 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.

* 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 [[spoiler:Rocky deserts them]] shows just how immediately everything falls apart without Ginger's guidance.

** Ginger's HeroicBSOD when she discovers that not only has [[spoiler: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''.

** The subtle way that Ginger's look of curiosity gives way to heartbroken shock when she finds [[spoiler:the torn piece of the poster revealing that Rocky was a fraud]], followed by the shot of her walking back to the poster with [[HeroicBSOD an unflinching look of total devastation frozen on her face]], is some amazing work on the animators' part.

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

** The subtle way that Ginger's look of curiosity gives way to heartbroken shock when she finds [[spoiler:the torn piece of the poster revealing that Rocky was a fraud]] is some amazing work on the animators' part.

** Ginger's HeroicBSOD when [[spoiler:Rocky deserts them]]. [[spoiler:She also finds out he could never fly; he was 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''.

* 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 ensures after [[spoiler:Rocky deserts them]] shows just how immediately everything falls apart without Ginger's guidance.

** 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*

** Or consider an alternate interpretation: she became essentially a martyr. Seeing an normally productive hen such as Bunty lay less eggs than usual could've been taken as a sign that she wouldn't have been worth keeping within some weeks. And that could be said of any other chicken. Edwina simply preferred to accept her fate rather than risk having someone else be unjustly killed because of her.

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

** Ginger's HeroicBSOD when [[spoiler:Rocky deserts them]]. [[spoiler:And she also finds out he could never fly; he was 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''.

* 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 tole on her. The chickens all panicking when she's taken to the pie machine and, later, the mud fight which ensures after [[spoiler:Rocky deserts them]] shows just how immediately everything falls apart without Ginger's guidance.

** Ginger's HeroicBSOD when [[spoiler:Rocky deserts them]]. 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''.

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

-->'''Babs:''' It's a living.

** Ginger's HeroicBSOD when [[spoiler:Rocky deserts them]]. 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 isn't just resentful, she's ''out of options.''

* 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 tole on her. The chickens all panicking when she's taken to the pie machine and, later, the mud fight which ensures after [[spoiler:Rocky deserts them]] shows just how quickly everything devolves into anarchy without Ginger's guidance.

* 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 slowly 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.

-->"Our only way out of here is wrapped in pastry."

Never again will chickens ever make you feel so much...

** After Bunty tells Ginger that the odds of their escaping were a million to one, Ginger replies sturdily, [[ArmourPiercingResponse "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.

** After Bunty tells Ginger that the odds of their escaping were a million to one, Ginger replies sturdily, "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.

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

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

* The film makers it perfectly clear that 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 tole on her. The chickens all panicking when she's taken to the pie machine and, later, the mud fight which ensures after [[spoiler:Rocky deserts them]] shows just how quickly everything devolves into anarchy without Ginger's guidance.

* While you won't be RootingForTheEmpire, it's still sad to see Mr. Tweedy get abused and ordered about constantly by his menacing wife. 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 want him to succeed in his efforts, but you do wish that he'd get away from his monster of a wife.

* The film makers it perfectly clear that 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 tole on her. The mud fight which ensures after [[spoiler:Rocky deserts them]], while indeed hilarious, shows just how quickly everything devolves into anarchy without Ginger's guidance.

* And then comes the scene a little bit after that, where it's revealed that practically all of them, except for Ginger, have pretty much accepted their fate. ''OUCH.''

* Rocky, after arguing with Ginger about her being "difficult", sees all the other chickens absolutely depressed. They're all just laying or walking around, completley heartbroken by the fact they're all going to be killed. Some of them are wiping their eyes from tears and Bunty is just scooping up seed and letting it fall through her hand.
** The kicker? Babs is ''knitting a noose.'' Just the hearthbroken expression on her face as she looks at it is enough to bawl your eyes out.

* The film does engage in a bit of CryForTheDevil for Mr Tweedy, who is abused and ordered about constantly by his menacing wife. 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. It's perhaps the one time you're almost rooting for the bad guys of the film to get their plans in motion. [[MoodWhiplash But then it does...]]

* After Bunty tells Ginger that the odds of their escaping were a million to one, Ginger replies sturdily, "Then there's still a chance." She manages to keep her composure until leaving the hut, where she breaks down crying. It's a genuinely emotional moment.
* Ginger seems to be some kind of magnet for tearjerker moments:
** The aforementioned "bursts into tears" scene.
** Watching a flock of migrating birds from the roof of her hut.
*** Shortly after hearing Edwina getting the "Chop."
** "We've ''got'' to get out of here."
** "I care about what happens to them!"
** Towards the end, we have ''this'' precious little scene; when [[spoiler:Rocky leaves the farm,]] Ginger - the only chicken left who still truly believes escape is possible - finally loses it. Her lifelong dream ''and'' her chance at love having been crushed in one fell swoop, she goes into a {{Heroic BSOD}} and bitterly tells her friends that "Our only way out of here is wrapped in pastry." The slapstick mudfight immediately following this does nothing to phase her. [[BreakTheCutie The cutie has been]] ''[[BreakTheCutie broken.]]''
** While said mudfight is indeed hilarious, it also shows how much the other chickens depend on Ginger to keep them together. The second she stops acting like their leader, anarchy breaks out.

** Towards the end, we have ''this'' precious little scene; when [[spoiler:Rocky leaves the farm,]] Ginger - the only chicken left who still truly believes escape is possible - finally loses it. Her lifelong dream ''and'' her chance at love having been crushed in one fell swoop, she goes into a {{Heroic BSOD}} and bitterly tells her friends that "Our only way out of here is wrapped in pastry." The slapstick mudfight immediately following this does ''not'' make it better. [[BreakTheCutie The cutie has been]] ''[[BreakTheCutie broken.]]''
* [[BigNo Rocky's]] [[FutileHandReach reaction]] when Ginger is [[spoiler: seemingly]] killed by Mrs. Tweedy can be pretty heart tugging. The next shot reveals that he started ''[[ManlyTears crying]]''.

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