I think the answer here is pretty obvious.
Up (2009)
The fact that this movie can make you cry within the first 10 minutes with no dialogue is absolutely amazing to me. I was 10 when I watched this movie in theaters and just remember feeling so moved with those first 10 minutes. We dive straight into the life of Ellie and Carl to witness the ups (no pun intended) and the downs. Each scene had a major significance in making the audience feel sympathetic toward our characters.
The audience is able to understand that they are both childhood buds. That they’ve known each other for a LONG time which makes their relationship even more significant.
At 10 years old, I was able to understand what was going on here. Ellie is crying at a doctor’s office finding out she’s not going to be able to have children. With the implication of the background poster, showing a woman’s pregnant belly.
“Ya know, you don’t talk very much, but I like you!” - Ellie
“Wow!” - Carl
They both knew at that moment they were going to best friends for life.
Then next cut*
Married!
Carl is shown to be quiet and the complete opposite of Ellie basically. She pushes him to be more adventurous and serendipitous.
With marriage, couples set goals for themselves. Here it is implied that they are saving up for a trip to see Paradise Falls. Unfortunately, life happens and they were never able to save enough.
By now, you’ve only known Ellie for about ten minutes and you’re crying your eyes out. Some movies “develop” characters for two hours and we couldn’t care less that they die at the end of the movie.
The first ten minutes of Up is probably better than about 90% of entire movies out today. These first 10 minutes are a prime example of show, don’t tell. The writers were able to give so many themes and show a loving relationship with almost zero dialogue in the first 10 MINUTES. I don’t know of a better example of “show don’t tell” than this.
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