Ask HN: Films that made you see the world differently?

Blue by Kieslowski. A movie about loss and freeing youself from the past. I saw it when I was 15, and I still remember how I felt when I got out of the theater. It has shaped the way I handle difficult times in life such as the loss of loved ones. Losing someone close to you breaks your soul, and to keep on living, you have to reinvent yourself every time.

Loss is an integral part of life. Acquiring material goods fools us into thinking that as life goes on, we have more things. But if you make it into old age, you will lose everything. Things go broke, your friends and family die, your health and mind fade, and finally you will lose your life. Being aware of this will help you lead a happier life. It seems contradictory. But somehow it isn't.

Having seen this at a young age, before I ever read (or even heard of) Descartes or the allegory of the cave, I have to second this one.

I saw Terminator when I was very young and more recently, Ex Machina was pretty great regarding what "passing" the Turing test might look like.

My answer might sound like a joke, but I'm being sincere -- the Adam Sandler movie "Click" had a profound impact on me. I saw that movie in theatres on a total whim when I was a teenager. After watching the movie, I felt extremely emotionally affected -- I literally spent the drive home sobbing.

I felt so moved by how the movie showed time passing by, especially as the main character started to lose control of how quickly time went by. I visualized myself being in the same situation as the main character at the end of the movie -- his entire life having passed by, and this sensation of guilt and regret he must be feeling for not having spent his time in a meaningful way and for having missed things like the last conversation with his father. I imagined the despair the character must have felt at having wasted his life, and then the incredible relief he must have felt when he got a chance to do it over and do it right.

Ever since seeing that movie, I've made an extra effort to remain present in my life, prioritize my family and close friends, and always question whether the way I'm spending my time is meaningful, or if I'm doing things that I'll one day look back on and feel regret. This movie made me confront what it would feel like to look back on my life and evaluate my choices, and consequently it helped me see what's important to me in life.

Pather Panchali by Satyajit Ray