History TearJerker / SongOfTheSea

[[caption-width-right:350:''His heart was broken into pieces by a great, great tragedy.\\

Higher and higher, it rose until we were all sure to drown in his tears.'']]

Underneath the cute selkies and fairies, ''WesternAnimation/SongOfTheSea'' at its core is a film about grief and the loss of a parent, so you can bet it is one [[TearJerker emotionally grueling]] and heartbreaking film. You're likely to cry a whole ocean by the time you're through.

Underneath the cute seals and fairies, ''WesternAnimation/SongOfTheSea'' at its core is a film about grief and the loss of a parent, so you can bet it is one [[TearJerker emotionally grueling]] and heartbreaking film. You're likely to cry a whole ocean by the time you're through.

''WesternAnimation/SongOfTheSea'' is one [[TearJerker emotionally grueling]] and heartbreaking film.

* Granny's reaction to seeing Saoirse on the beach, apparently about to drown. That is some heavy {{adult fear}}.

** Just Conor in general. It's obvious just how happy he was in the prologue, with a happy marriage, a beloved son and a daughter on the way. When he loses Bronagh, he becomes [[HowTheMightyHaveFallen a shell of his former self]], trying to drink away the pain of losing his wife and believing he isn't able to be, and doesn't deserve to be, Ben and Saoirse's father.

* Ben finally realizing what really happened on the night his mother "died" and Saoirse was born. He even cries tears of regret and shame.

** Just Conor in general. It's obvious just how happy he was in the prologue, with a happy marriage, a beloved son and a daughter on the way. When he loses Bronagh, he becomes a shell of his former self, trying to drink away the pain of losing his wife and believing he isn't able to be, and doesn't deserve to be, Ben and Saoirse's father.

** What makes it hard for Ben to swallow is the cruel irony that washes over him: six years ago, he was ''so eager'' to meet his unborn sibling, wondering if [[TemptingFate he and the baby would become best friends]]. His mother saw such promise in her son, claiming he indeed would be the [[CoolBigSis best big brother ever]]. Once he learns the truth about how Bronagh's apparent death was ''not'' Saoirse's fault, Ben is [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone devastated]] to realize he had not upheld that promise, that for the past six years, he's been [[BigBrotherBully anything]] ''[[BigBrotherBully but]]'' [[BigBrotherBully a good brother]] to his innocent sister.
* Ben finding Saoirse encased in stone up to her midriff in Macha's attic, doubles as a SugarWiki/{{Heartwarming Moment|s}} as he immediately apologises to her for being a bad brother.

** What makes it hard for Ben to swallow is the cruel irony that washes over him: six years ago, he was ''so eager'' to meet his unborn sibling, wondering if [[TemptingFate he and the baby would become best friends]]. His mother saw such promise in her son, claiming he indeed would be the [[CoolBigSis best big brother ever]]. Once he learns the truth about how Bronagh's apparent death was ''not'' Saoirse's fault, Ben is [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone devastated]] to realize he had not upheld that promise, that for the past six years, he's been [[BigBrotherBully anything]] ''[[BigBrotherBully but]]'' [[BigBrotherBully a good brother]] to his innocent sister.]]

* At the end, when The age of the ancient gods and heroes of Ireland is finally over, and their spirits rise up to finally venture to Tír Na nÓg...the last journey of Odysseus hasn't got anything on the sheer raw power of this scene, as Bronagh must leave her family behind again, in order to leave behind the land of men—it's genuinely heartbreaking, especially for anyone with even a cursory knowledge of Irish myth.

** What makes it hard for Ben to swallow is the cruel irony that washes over him: six years ago, he was ''so eager'' to meet his unborn sibling, wondering if [[TemptingFate he and the baby would become best friends. His mother saw such promise in her son, claiming he indeed would be the [[CoolBigSis best big brother ever]]. Once he learns the truth about how Bronagh's apparent death was ''not'' Saoirse's fault, Ben is [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone devastated]] to realize he had not upheld that promise, that for the past six years, he's been [[BigBrotherBully anything]] ''[[BigBrotherBully but]]'' [[BigBrotherBully a good brother]] to his innocent sister.]]

* [[spoiler:Ben finally realizing what really happened on the night his mother "died" and Saoirse was born.]] He even cries tears of regret and shame.
** During the flashback in the cave, [[spoiler: Ben finds Conor holding newborn Saoirse in his hands. Ben asks where Bronagh is, and Conor simply responds by showing him Saoirse, telling him that he must now look after her. Saoirse looks at Ben and reaches out to him, laughing... And Ben's face visibly hardens in anger. Ben was ''four'' at this time.]]
** What makes it hard for Ben to swallow is [[spoiler: the cruel irony that washes over him: six years ago, he was ''so eager'' to meet his unborn sibling, wondering if [[TemptingFate he and the baby would become best friends]]. His mother saw such promise in her son, claiming he indeed would be the [[CoolBigSis best big brother ever]]. Once he learns the truth about how Bronagh's apparent death was ''not'' Saoirse's fault, Ben is [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone devastated]] to realize he had not upheld that promise, that for the past six years, he's been [[BigBrotherBully anything]] ''[[BigBrotherBully but]]'' [[BigBrotherBully a good brother]] to his innocent sister.]]

* [[spoiler:Macha's HeelRealization. After absorbing the emotions she's been capturing for centuries, all the Owl Witch can do is weep and look at her cameo of her beloved son, Mac Lir.]]
* Bronagh is probably a walking TearJerker. [[spoiler:She falls in love with and marries Conor (a human). They have a son, Ben, and are about to have another baby. However, due to complications in the pregnancy, Bronagh transforms back into a selkie to save her and Conor's child. For the next 6 years, she was unable to be with her family. And when she does meet them again, it turns out to be a final goodbye. Saoirse stays with Ben and Conor of her own choosing. She shares one last kiss with Conor and gives some really helpful parting words to Ben. And then leaves forever....]]
* Mac Lir's sadness, as shown in a flashback. We don't know exactly ''what'' has made him so sad, but he's obviously extremely broken up about it, so much so that he ''cries an entire ocean'', and it's made very clear how much anguish he's in. Not to mention how [[spoiler:even when Macha takes away Mac Lir's sadness to ease his suffering, it turns him to stone.]]
* At the end, when [[spoiler: The age of the ancient gods and heroes of Ireland is finally over, and their spirits rise up to finally venture to Tír Na nÓg...the last journey of Odysseus hasn't got anything on the sheer raw power of this scene, as Bronagh must leave her family behind again, in order to leave behind the land of men—it's genuinely heartbreaking, especially for anyone with even a cursory knowledge of Irish myth.]]

''WesternAnimation/SongOfTheSea'' is one [[TearJerker emotionally grueling]] and heartbreaking film

''WesternAnimation/SongOfTheSea'' is one [[TearJerker emotionally grueling]] and heartbreaking film ----

''WesternAnimation/SongOfTheSea'' is one [[TearJerker emotionally grueling]] and heartbreaking film ever made by Creator/CartoonSaloon.
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** Everything about Ben's behaviour in the beginning of the film is this, compounded by the fact that ''it's his sister's birthday'': He shouts at her and "tells on her" to their father in the hopes that his father will also berate her; he accuses her of being a thief for trying to handle the shell flute (implying that, despite it being the last thing their mother gave him, he's never willingly shared it with her either); he smashes her face into her birthday cake because he knew it'd hurt her; at his most annoyingly petty he deliberately distracts Cu whenever Cu tries to show affection to Saoirse. And, of course, there's the above story, which he can't even bring himself to apologise over. Basically anything he can antagonise Saoirse over or blame on her, he will, his resentment is that strong - and she did nothing at all to deserve it.