“I thought that love would last forever, I was wrong.” That voice break kills me

It's a small moment, but imagine the love of your life being buried and being introduced as their "friend" when you go to eulogize them.

In my opinion, John Hannah should've been nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the Academy Awards, based on this scene.

I had the pastor read this poem at my husbands funeral. This was one of our favorite movies and we had agreed to read this at whoever's funeral, never thought I would be keeping that promise so soon.

Been watching this movie for twenty years and this scene will never fail to make me weep.

Is it strange that this is my favourite scene in the whole film? For, despite the solemnity, it shows love in the most sincere and heartfelt, not to mention heartbreaking, way. Exceptional writing by the screenwriters, great direction, and such a brilliant performance by John Hannah. For all the jokes about love that are well displayed throughout the comedy, this shows love in a real and simple way, if sad. I absolutely love the chosen poem. The line "...My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song" is beautiful.

There’s a lot of details about this scene that I love - the slightly bare almost spartan church makes you feel the chill of the day. Then the very prosaic industrial landscape outside when they’re loading the coffin into the hearse. It’s as though all the extravagance and colour of Gareths life has died with him and all that’s left is gritty reality.

This goes beyond acting. The hurt. The pain. You feel it... and it absolutely destroys you.

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone, Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone, Silence the pianos and with muffled drum Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come. Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead Scribbling on the sky the message ‘He is Dead’. Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves, Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves. He was my North, my South, my East and West, My working week and my Sunday rest, My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song; I thought that love would last forever: I was wrong. The stars are not wanted now; put out every one, Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun, Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood; For nothing now can ever come to any good.

Still playing this on repeat in 2024 when needed..

What a performance by John Hannah! Timeless performance.

Delivered so perfectly that I have to remind myself he is acting because the grief is palpable

it's been 26 years and I'm still crying at this.

The most moving love scene ever

John Hannah's recitation of 'Funeral Blues' is a classic bit of cinema. Perfectly done.

We bury my Father tomorrow. This poem brings me some comfort. When someone you love dies, you can't understand why the rest of the world keeps going. You want everything, everyone to just stop & acknowledge your loved one's life. I'm no longer afraid to die. I wish for my soul, my spirit, to find his as soon as I pass. My heart is forever broken. I'm just so completely devastated & numb.

The combination of John Hannah's brilliant, heartfelt work and Auden's beautiful poem make this an absolute classic.

I also love the friend with the silent laugh. This movie is so real, its little details are part of what make it so perfect.

I read this poem over and over again when my mother died in 2001. Those were the words that bescribed the loss I was feeling.

This poem perfectly captures the hole that's left in our hearts after someone dies and no one has ever recited it better than John Hannah. Every time I lose someone close to me, I watch this scene. 😭

Anyone else think John Hannah is awesome

The look of the mother at 1:15 is exactly the look a mother would give when hearing such stories. Great acting just in that one shot. One, if not the, best scenes in the movie.

Hannah's performance is exquisite. It must have been a surreal experience shooting that scene with so many actors assembled and channelling the same emotions. I wonder what it was like on set afterwards.

Superb scene. Could have been a real funeral. Underplayed to perfection. I miss England.

Lost a very dear friend today. Teared up watching this

Love is universal.. this tells everything about a loss not matter who you are and who you love... How can anyone shame love after this speech, even if you don't undertand it ?

One of the most powerful scenes in cinema history.

I am a poet. The first time I heard this poem recited was in college. It was in an English literature class. The teacher requested each student to bring in a poem that helped them, or inspired them. One woman, not more than 20, brought in this poem, and said it helped her after her father's death. Everyone in the class was crying by the end of it. I thought: Wow. If I can write even one poem that will comfort someone in their time of grief, I will be successful.

It's a breathtaking moment because suddenly, by reciting this magnificiant poem in his eulogy Matthew exposed his true feelings and the true nature of his relationship to Gareth whom everybody thought of as an eternal cynical bachelor. It's done in a subtle, moving and such elegant manner... It gives me chills every time i see it. Definitely my favourite scene of the movie.

Really touching moment in a brilliant film. My favourite part of it. The expressions on the mourners' faces say it all, not least his parents.

Gareth was my favorite character. This scene devastated me. Still does. WHAuden...splendid bugger indeed

I felt loved like this once...Have watched this scene a dozen times in the 23 years since she died. My heart cries every time when I think that we couldn't watch our grandchildren together.

Christ. That still tears at my heart after all these years. Great filmmaking!

Best scene of the movie

This is definitely the best eulogy in the history of film and in my life experience. Kudos to the writers. This film is definitely one of my favorites.

I cry everytime, I watch It... Cannot stop It!! John Hannah nails It!!!, And breaks my ❤️!!!

My Mother loved this poem.

I keep thinking of this actor, John Hannah, who has undoubtedly moved on from the movie from nearly 3 decades ago (1994!), but who I can imagine has total strangers burst into tears upon even seeing him in a restaurant. I might be one of those people myself, that scene has moved me so deeply.

John Hannah is awesome & plays this part superbly...incredibly moving scene performed by a "yet another splendid bugger"!!

Incredibly emotional and exceptionally well acted.

I'd never be able to read that poem aloud. It's hard enough listening to Matthew without getting a lump in my throat and a wetness in my eyes.

Mixing happiness and sadness, joy and pain, jokes and serious matters, all trivial things which make our life ordinary, fantastic, priceless; that's what this movie - and especially this part of its - reminds me: DO NOT WASTE ANY SINGLE MINUTE OF YOUR LIFE.

John Hannah absolutely killed it. 👏

I first learnt about this poem when we did it in English class...it was....brutally heartbreaking.....

One of my favorite films during my tenure as a cinema manager. Reminds me of a friend with whom I used to work who passed away suddenly a few years back. Back then, he resembled Hugh a bit. Odd the things that stick with you. Phenomenal performance here by John Hannah.

Such incredible, moving acting. Makes me cry every damn time.

The brief shifts of the camera to the random faces of mourners and their reactions to Matthew’s various sorrows is heartbreaking.

Masterpiece Eulogy by John Hannah, I'd love to hear anything remotely close at my own Funeral!

Still touched even in 2020.

Beautiful,poignant,clever words,an excellent deliverance by John Hannah

This is just... everything.

This has to be the most beautiful poem ever this scene is so very emotional

I read this at my moms funeral ❤

Love this. Always have always will. I love how when the vicar says he would speak a child is heard saying No. To me that is Gareth from the great beyond saying don't make such a fuss over me.

Such an excellent scene

The poem breaks my heart 💔😢

Very moving. Speech.

Beautiful....💙

Thank you for reminding the universe about this amazing scene!

Breaks your heart

I've got something in my eyes!

Pure poetry 💚

It's so sad that he referred to Matthew as Gareth's "friend"... so glad we've at least come far enough that Gareth and Matthew could have been married, or if they chose not to marry, them acknowledged as they should be

Brilliant scene

Makes the eyes and nose sting every damn time.

i've never watched this movie (don't know why not) but now i'm studying this particular scene at school, i'll have to go watch it

Another splendid bagger

Beautiful!

We actually got shown the poem in English a couple years ago. Just remembering it now as I watched it the other day.

My cousin / godmother passed away last month from a heart attack. It was only after she died that I found out she was gay. Her family is still reluctant to acknowledge it publicly. I died inside every time the priest referred to her girlfriend as her "good friend".

The only thing who brings me any comfort, is that there is not purpose of such a loss. Thus no injustice because life is not injust it just is.. I could not bear if such as thing as fate or a God was involved, because that would simply be devasting.. who deserves this... NO ONE.

I didn't cry 😭

Weddings are fun, but funerals matter more to me nowadays because marriage can be undone (obviously by divorce) while memories of a late person you cared about should never get erased from your mind!

Most romantic scene ever

magnifique eloge

What makes this the best romcom is the script. You can tell the writers had a blast and the studio didn't interfere. "Notting Hill" is commercial fare compared to this masterpiece.

The stars are not wanted now, put out every one. Pack up the moon and dismantle the Sun. Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood, for nothing there can ever come to any good.

Hey! If you like this song, you'll love the version by El Famoso y Grandioso!

Andie has to be FREAKING OUT!, because Gareth died at HER wedding.

He reincarnates to narrate The Mr. Men Show 😂

Art²

I want this scene on my funeral.

Name of The Sade Music of this scene ? Thanks !!!

The Stars are not wanting though

originally written by W.H. Auden and set to music as a farce for a musical satire. True story.

I wonder what the emotional tension was like for the actors at the end of this scene ?

What is the name of the poem?

We use this piece in our English class and Im the only one who got perfect score... All what he said we memorized it

I just watched this all the way through for the first time. Was I just oblivious? Were we supposed to know that they were more than just friends before this scene?

The Queen died today 8th September 2022 These words are so apprapo

When I first watched the film in 1994, it didn't occur to me that Matthew and Gareth were a couple. Guess back then gay relationships had to be portrayed more implicitly and discreetly.

sad

F

My stiff upper lip fell off.

"closest friend" YEAHHH SURE

THE WORD CAPTIONS IS AWFUL

Seems like the mood over there at the moment...

The first line explains why gay weddings became a thing

Well maybe only the Priest had to whitewash the obvious. Rest of us knew and are fine with it.

Just buy a Mac, honestly