10 Biopics About Despair That Will Move You

Description: Directed by David Lynch, this film tells the story of Joseph Merrick, a man with severe deformities who is treated as a sideshow attraction. It's a moving exploration of human dignity and the despair of being ostracized.

Fact: The film was shot in black and white to emphasize the Victorian era setting and to focus on the emotional depth rather than the physical deformities.

Description: This biopic delves into the life of Frida Kahlo, exploring her physical and emotional pain, her tumultuous relationship with Diego Rivera, and her artistic expression of despair.

Fact: Salma Hayek, who played Kahlo, was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress, making her the first Mexican-born actress to be nominated in that category.

Description: Roman Polanski's film about Władysław Szpilman, a Polish-Jewish pianist who survives the Holocaust by hiding in the ruins of Warsaw. It's a harrowing tale of despair, survival, and the power of music.

Fact: Polanski himself survived the Holocaust as a child, which adds a personal layer to the film's authenticity.

Description: This film portrays the life of John Nash, a brilliant mathematician who battles schizophrenia. It captures the despair of mental illness and the struggle to maintain a grip on reality.

Fact: The film took liberties with Nash's life for dramatic effect, but it did win four Oscars, including Best Picture.

Description: Jamie Foxx delivers an unforgettable performance as Ray Charles, capturing the musician's battle with blindness, drug addiction, and the despair of losing loved ones.

Fact: Foxx learned to play the piano and sing like Charles, and his portrayal was so convincing that he won an Oscar for Best Actor.

Description: This film tells the true story of Jean-Dominique Bauby, who suffers a massive stroke and is left with locked-in syndrome, able to communicate only by blinking his left eye. It's a testament to the human spirit's ability to find beauty and hope in the most dire circumstances.

Fact: The film was shot from the perspective of Bauby, with the camera often representing his limited field of vision. The real Bauby wrote his memoir by blinking his eye to select letters on an alphabet board.

Description: Will Smith stars as Chris Gardner, a struggling salesman who faces homelessness while trying to provide for his son. It's a story of despair turned into determination and hope.

Fact: The film's title misspells "happiness" to reflect a real-life incident where Gardner's son misspelled the word on a daycare sign-in sheet.

Description: Based on the true story of Christopher McCandless, who abandons his possessions and savings to live in the Alaskan wilderness, this film explores themes of isolation, self-discovery, and the ultimate despair of facing one's own mortality.

Fact: The film was shot in many of the actual locations where McCandless traveled, including the bus in Alaska where he ultimately died.

Description: King George VI, who unexpectedly ascends to the throne, struggles with a debilitating stammer. The film captures his despair over public speaking and his journey to overcome it.

Fact: The film was inspired by the real-life friendship between King George VI and his speech therapist, Lionel Logue.

Description: This biopic focuses on the life of physicist Stephen Hawking, detailing his struggle with motor neuron disease and his relationship with his first wife, Jane. It's a story of love, perseverance, and the despair of losing physical capabilities while the mind remains sharp.

Fact: Eddie Redmayne, who played Hawking, met with the physicist to prepare for the role and learned to mimic his physical movements and speech patterns.