How Aerith Lost Her Mother (Sad Scene) - Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

[@austa10]

As a 30 year old man, I sat and cried almost the entire scene. I had to take a break after this one. This is what I wanted from a remake. Adding depth to what happened. Young Aerith crying because she tried her best but couldn't save her mother. This broke my heart.... I have a daughter and couldn't imagine the pain I would cause if I left this world from her..... This scene is a 10/10. Probably a contender for the best cutscene in gaming history. Emotionally powerful.

[@mattiasolsson1523]

Same for me, i turn 30 soon. This scene broke my heart😭

[@monca1222]

@@mattiasolsson1523 Same here...😢😭

[@katyaa89]

"I tried.... Mama..... I really tried...." ;_;

[@DodderingOldMan]

Same. I'm 43. I'm an emotional guy at the best of times, but this scene destroyed me, to the point I'm not sure I ever want to see it again. It's also the only time in gaming history where I've felt bad about having control of the character, I almost felt like I was complicit in the tragedy just by being the one who was moving that poor, helpless child around. I know, I'm weird.

[@ayakotami3318]

Same. 😭

[@wraithreaper7152]

The moment she started walking back and started apologizing to her mum about not being able to help. It broke me, it hurted me more when she broke down after her mom died. Never thought I cried this much in years.

[@dustinweber1945]

Same I was just sobbing

[@deathfromthewoods]

This scence was so heartbreaking Even more than her own death to me. It is was so hard to watch this little asking for help for her dying mum and no one helps and then she walks back, slowly and apologizing she can't help her mum. 33 year old man claims to have tears in his eyes watching this :(

[@RyanSmith-on1hq]

100%. This is possibly the saddest thing I've seen in a game. I'm not emotional but this absolutley broke me. I'm also 33.

[@roguetomato3033]

This was easily the saddest moment in the game next to seto scene. The ending was so damn confusing it really took away from the emotional aspect.

[@RyanSmith-on1hq]

@@roguetomato3033 I didn't find it confusing, it cleared a lot of things up for me. Sephiroth explains it clearly. When you defy fate by making a choice you weren't meant to, the timelines branch off. This is how some physicists interpret our reality. These new branches of the timeline don't last, they're doomed to die (rips in the sky, worlds that accepted their fate). This is the world's merging, the reunion. The whole scene with alternate timeline Aerith and Cloud in Midgar is showing that choice is an illusion. Each time you pick something from the shop your choice is ignored and you get something different. This is also what the Zach and Biggs scenes show, but this is more about showing that you can have branches within branches, those are also doomed.

[@daesong1378]

@@RyanSmith-on1hqhow do you reconcile choice being nothing but an illusion with defying fate being a possibility? If choice is an illusion then how can a person defy fate? The only thing I can think of is to say that in the end fate will still have its way. Ie, in the end there is reunion of worlds, which can also signify the erasure of possibility if the multiple worlds represent multiple possibilities. At the same time even if that’s the case, it’s not like those other worlds or choices didn’t exist. Heck in both Zack’s and Biggs case it’s not really like it was their choice to survive. Even Biggs was question why he was alive. So him dying to illustrate that choices don’t matter doesn’t really make sense because it was never his choice to live to begin with. Questions I’m left with, is Aerith dead or alive? If she’s not dead then why does everyone think she is dead besides cloud? What world or timeline is Zack in after being separated from cloud? What started the multiple time lines in the first place? What are those fish weapons exactly? Are they even weapons? How did Aerith’s white materia get depleted in the first place? (I might have just missed that one) If Aerith is dead and fate is unchangeable, then does that mean Sephiroth is fated to lose to cloud once again? Then what’s the point in any of his actions? And what is the point of defeating the whispers in part 1? Why would whispers even exist if fate was unchangeable and choice is just an illusion? Why is cloud able to see through the eyes of his otherworld self sometimes in his dreams? What is the true meaning of “rebirth” in the title? Marlene in that world where Zack appeared, seemed to be familiar with cloud, so are there two clouds in that world? The one the Zack hauled in should have never met Marlene before. Not to mention that the version of cloud she met would have gotten there prior to the sector collapsing. Zack does mention his perception of time being skewed. Is the destruction of all the other worlds caused by Sephiroth and meteor or is it something else? I don’t think they ever explicitly say this. There’s one planet and multiple “worlds” according to Sephiroth, they all return to the planet. Is there only one life stream as a source, so multiple worlds are drawing from the same life stream? Would that mean that each alternate world weakens the life stream by drawing on it? Sephiroth says that the true reunion is the reunion of worlds, then what is the cause of this reunion? Is it just natural or is something making it happen? What’s the point of fighting Sephiroth if there’s a million other sephiroths floating in between worlds? Is there a time limit on this reunion? Or was he implying that through destroying all “possibilities” or world it would naturally become one again? Why was Zack able to go into that edge of creation space? Was Sephiroth trying to kill Tifa or save her from that fish? If he needed to save her so that everything would go as it did originally, then that would mean there is a possibility of things not being the same otherwise why take action? Actually if Sephiroth really thought that his choices and actions don’t matter then why would he take action at all? He would just naturally become a god regardless of what he does.

[@RyanSmith-on1hq]

@@daesong1378 When I say "choice is an illusion" I'm not saying the player cant make choices. You misunderstand. It's because when you make any decision the timeline splits, a branch for every version of reality that can happen. It's not that you can't make choices, it's the opposite. You make every choice, each of those decisions is now it's own branch of the timeline. These branched off timelines don't last, all are doomed to merge back into the main timeline, the timeline that's meant to happen (fate, destiny). That's why it showed Zack going to the Shinra building and to the reactor. That was 2 different timelines even though he could have only made one choice. This is what the rips in the sky are, the dying worlds. Those are timelines that deviated from destiny, from the intended path. The timeline merging is the reunion of worlds. Aerith is 100% dead.

[@orangelightning9846]

That slow walk down the train station was probably one of the most gut wrenching things I have ever experienced in a video game

[@serandoniadis]

I'm 28 years old, I rarely cry in movies, video games and series but in this scene i was crying for 5 minutes😢😢 Poor Aerith😥😥

[@VictorVonDoomDoom]

everyone says this but you cry at everything lmfao

[@iLoveLucy420]

@@VictorVonDoomDoomhe’s right though I rarely cry from media myself but this got me good(makes me think of my mom)…Nina Tucker from FMA, Lyla Teefs and Floor from GOTG and Future Lucy from Fairy Tail are the only other times media has broke me… seriously what happened to Nina Tucker is the stuff of nightmares.

[@JoeNathaniel-ps5wy]

​@@VictorVonDoomDoomyeah bro men arent supposed to cry, these guys are GALS!

[@TheWorldsOkayestUSMarine]

​@VictorVonDoomDoom LMAO this scene was corny AF but I'll admit I did shed some tears at the end. I was also drinking

[@andrewramirez3998]

@@TheWorldsOkayestUSMarinehow was it corny? u guys are so extra lmao

[@amekaiza]

After finishing the game, I can honestly say this is the part where I cried the most 😢😭 Needed them tissues man

[@TheJimmy6m]

Unhinged Cloud would have stabbed that guy who knocked Aerith down

[@n0ctiz456]

So would I

[@ArcAngell2528]

Yeah so would I mean knocking down a child and laughing and not helping her.

[@Lex_Nocturna]

​@@n0ctiz456 I second that notion

[@monca1222]

He'd go demon door on him

[@lourensjansenvanrensburg2961]

"its the homecoming... ⚔️"

[@aether_eyes]

Ugh, I cried so bad during this that my chest was hurting. This and the reunion with Seto.

[@Keitek]

i've played many, many games in my life and i don't recall any of them ever even making my eyes water but this scene broke me and had me sniffling while tears are streaming from my eyes, especially when she's apologizing for failing to find help for her mother.

[@bja808]

Aerith could of chosen a life of anger, hate, and sadness against humanity that separated her from her mother. But she chose happiness, positivity, and love instead. Thats what I love about Aerith. She fought through her pain and became a much stronger person.

[@MegamanX18]

As someone who lost their mother this scene really hit and absolutely broke me. This had me ugly crying. I had to take a break from the game for a while after this.

[@loonytunescrazy]

I know that feeling too

[@TheRenegadePlayer]

After all that she had been through, she chose to be the kind, loving and helpful person she was to the end, even though she had every reason to hate the world. I've seen villain origin stories similar to this.

[@Cure_Hana]

I am NOT ready for when they show the flashbacks of Aerith’s birth parents in Part 3. Her entire family’s story is one big tragedy, and Hojo is a monster for tearing them apart.

[@TheChordstruckPony]

"What a terrible tragedy, to lose the last of the pure-blooded ancients... though not completely. Would you like to see your mother? Albeit through the lens of one of my microscopes. Did you really think we'd leave such a precious specimen to rot in the gutter? We collected and catalogued every last bit of her. Hair, skin, organs, every fragment of every bone, as breath-taking in death as in life!" I bet those words ran loud and clear through her mind as she saw her mother being found and the void snatch away her last viewing of her.

[@faeandal2824]

Aerith's last cry of "mommy" really broke me 😭 Also, I realized that, since Shinra recovered Ifalna's body, she most likely never had a funeral and her corpse was likely...dissected...for further experimentation 😢

[@mellemadswoestenburg1296]

It was. Hojo actually taunted Aerith with this. "What a terrible tragedy, to lose the last of the pure blooded Ancients. But not entirely. Would you like to see your mother? Albeit through the lense of one of my microscopes. Did you really think we'd leave such a precious specimen to rot in the gutter? We've collected every last bit of her. Hair, skin, organs, every fragment of every bone." When i kill Hojo in part 3 i will make sure it will be brutal. I want it to be brutal.

[@Frn_CC]

Sadly this is hinted also in Crisis Core... that Hojo and the science department had her body...

[@brycamp3237]

@@mellemadswoestenburg1296I hate him! Make him pay!

[@KittyKatt_Luna80s]

​@mellemadswoestenburg1296 In the original plan for FF7 as in the OG, Aerith and Sephiroth would have been half-siblings, sharing a mother. I wouldn't be surprised if Hojo did something else to Ifalna's body before dissection... 😔 *shudders*

[@TheKevinKeyblade]

​@@KittyKatt_Luna80sgeez man, don't make things worse, that guy is already the root of every evil in ff7, you're making him Satan at this point...

[@0626polyboy]

damn who put those onions in my ps5 controller

[@jinratgeist]

This fucking segment... it's funny how I never cried during Aerith's death (both OG and Rebirth), but this segement here and Elmyra's flashback on Remake, are the ones that broke me.

[@ff7lover001]

same here trial completely ruined me 🙁 at first i was like “ maybe ut won’t be that bad” then boom her crying for her mommy and saying she really really tried” got me

[@jorgerivera5003]

SAME. I can't remember crying playing games, beside these 2 moments in particular

[@ayakotami3318]

I actually did cry at her death in both versions (she's my favorite character alongside Sephiroth, Zack, and Red), but this? This got me more. I had stop for a few minutes before continuing at this part.

[@colbymeyer9431]

No matter how many times I watch this it still makes me cry

[@Cladounnet]

Exactly the same for me... I have finish FFVIIR in march, I come back to this video many months after, I have almost cry so much...

[@LoneWhiteMage]

Straight out of Traces of Two Pasts. So heartbreaking.

[@MattAlchemy]

Why did they make me go through this entire thing AGAIN on Hard Mode? I wasn't ready to cry a 2nd time

[@xXGhostStalker]

The added vocals to her theme made an already great song so much better. I know we have the choir version, but i wonder if there's a longer version of this one where its more...softer and subdued

[@thetalltitan2235]

Given how Aerith’s remade “death” left me confused, I think her backstory of losing her real mother here was sadder. 😢

[@offthedeepend3996]

Yeah. Aerith's entire backstory to me was always sadder than her death. Because her dying in a way only made her more powerful and able to influence the lifestream.

[@BlackAdam10]

it was the worst thing I had to do. every step I took with the controller felt like I was pushing her towards the worst moment a little girl could experience. I knew from the beginning how it would end, I was sure but it was so macabre as an idea that I started and I cried from the beginning seeing that all the characters were experiencing something bad that would not have a happy ending, I knew that Erith's end would be something that would haunt me . I was crying like Aerith’s pain was mine and far worst. I was crying as if I was going through the same thing. I am 31 years old and I love my mother more than anything in the universe. Just the idea of losing your mother at a random spot on the road, being so helpless without any hope was one of the most heartbreaking scenes. I can't describe how much I cried and how much I was hurt by what I saw. I was fed up with my sadness.

[@bber45]

Poor Aerith. Truly a tragic character. Loses her mother in brutal fashion then get's skewered by Sephiroth. Thankfully, Cloud was able to smash that. My man.

[@balkanbaroque]

Y’all are insane😂

[@luka.mybeloved]

??

[@Aloiv]

I was already tearing up realizing what we'd be seeing for Aetith's "trial", I pretty much lost it sobbing as soon as Ifalna said "What if we went on an adventure"? Haven't cried this hard at a game since the second hidden Emil boss in Nier Automata.

[@monca1222]

When Ifalna said that, it just reminded me of the experiences of those captured during WW2... Very similar ☹

[@xX-Anonymous-Xx]

This is the only trial that got to me. It was because her mother died in the street like trash while nobody seemed to care except for the lady who took her in.

[@jorgerivera5003]

You know, I think you are spot on. Didn't think about it that way. Asked myself why the other didn't affect me the same way, and that's why. The helplessness you feel and thd fact that she had to abandon her there it's what makes it worse

[@justinfever9787]

Good lord that was sad.

[@TheKevinKeyblade]

This scene broke my heart...

[@mooner77]

😢

[@mattiasolsson1523]

Me too

[@jay_sooning]

Jesus Christ this part broke me as much as the fake-out Aerith death scene

[@fenixwright]

I have a newborn baby niece who was born just a few weeks ago. Watching this reminds me of the hardships my sister endured during labor-something I hope my niece won't experience, like Aerith did...

[@Labbish1]

I cried my eyes out. This scene is so sad 😭

[@mooner77]

😢

[@ayakotami3318]

Still does make me cry. 😭

[@mattiasolsson1523]

Me too.

[@HSC19846]

As a man who had just turned 40 and have a childhood experience somewhat like this... this was the first time i ever cried in a video game. And yes, I did play the OG in the 90's.

[@alejandroanguiano6383]

I really want to hug her 😢 Poor Aerith

[@josecuestas7246]

Poor Aerith 😢

[@MrOzair78]

Those residents were so unkind to her they refuse to help her well at least elmyra was kind enough to help her

[@josecuestas7246]

Yeah. They treated her like a pest, than show some compassion for a distraugh girl. Good thing that Aerith met a kindhearted woman like Elmyra, she deserve any love 😢

[@mattiasolsson1523]

I cried so much when Aerith walk back to her mother, and the music makes it more sadder. My heart broke me so hard,

[@ayyachris]

The choir from the song made it even more sad. I hope there’s a Rebirth OST plus soon.

[@Cookies_Aqua]

I literally crying 😢😢😢😢😢

[@monca1222]

This trial was really emotional... Having to walk back asAerith crying and saying she was trying her best was heartbreaking. It makes the scenes in Remake with the ghost graveyard and her saying she's best at giving up with Cloud even more heavy 😭😭😭

[@anaangel6433]

Theory When Aeiriths mom was drawing and showing her a place on the train i believe it was the promised land telling Aeirith “lets go on a Adventure “ was her wanting to look for it with her but this is just a theory

[@yerxiong123]

God dame them Ninjas cutting onions at this time .

[@starzz323]

cant stop crying for her

[@pdaddywompa_1]

I had to pause the game after this scene because it broke me. This and Red XIII's torture scene were to hard to watch.

[@heisenbergpinkman2265]

I actually broke down crying during this scene, had to pause the game for a moment. I'm glad I wasn't the only one crying.

[@arxzcm]

This transition is good and heartbreaking 2:36

[@sephirothjenova1200]

My mom died when I was a teenager, so this entire scene fucking ruined me. too had to take a break after this part, because hooboy. It hit hard.

[@switchboy2320]

Saddest tragedy in video game in history

[@SublimeKaoZ]

This scene broke me so hard I had to stop playing😢. Much more sad than the "fated" scene.

[@misakiinuko8129]

Coming here after reading Traces of Two Pasts broke me even further. Aerith and Ifalna didn't deserve any of what they have been through. And seeing Aerith sobbing while walking back to her mom made me cry more

[@ayakotami3318]

Aerith. . .Oh, my poor girl. This scene never fails to get me. Makes me cry more then what the rest witnessed.. I cannot begin to imagine the pain of losing your mother as early as she had. 😭

[@slaysomemore]

She gives herself the same words Cloud gives her after her performance at the play....Go on.

[@2191Mook]

i just came here because i needed a good cry again 🥺🥺

[@braedenpowley681]

That it’s much harder for me this year after losing a loved one

[@simankim]

It's just so painful to watch this child who becomes the personification of hope and kindness struggle to find someone who will help her.

[@acado8870]

Square has no business making me cry like that.

[@loganthevillager9176]

They also had no business making the ending of FF16 so damn depressing either….

[@komrademoses]

I had to pause to cry during this part

[@visi17]

I’d rather watch this trail over and over than being pulled by Hojo in Red’s trail- that one haunts me!

[@SalvadorVlogs]

Man playing this part of the game broke me so hard, it was so hard to hear aerith crying and finding no help for her mom.

[@MusicChitChat]

The music is even more touching.

[@lagmari]

Anyone else when she screamed mommy while being pulled to safety? 😢

[@party_boy69]

I was crying from "what if we went on an adventure" knowing there would not be one. But yeah when she screamed "mommy" I think that was the hardest I've ever cried, and I cried a bucket load at the end of FFXVI

[@mangetsuph7232]

This scene is the second saddest scene IMO, next to Barret and Dyne's. 😭

[@angelic0828]

You know this is very sad how people don’t even stop to help her or nothing. They just keep walking and they don’t even stop to talk to her when she is asking for a cure for her mother that’s the most saddest thing ever in this remake a Final Fantasy 74. Aerths character.😢

[@vexcarius7100]

This part is the saddest.

[@Captain-America92]

Sorry but no one has a more tear Jerking crying wail than Barret, its almost terrifying when u hear a big strong grown man break down & weap like that.

[@elmo2800]

I was so mad at this game because I knew Aerith was going to die, and they didn't emotionally prepare me throughout the game. I was shocked when they hit me with this scene at the last moment. It completely wrecked me

[@d6rkOfHate]

This scene made me hate ppl in her home town SMH specially the dude knocked her over, didnt even say sorry 😡 n i started crying, this was way too deep

[@haileeraestout5567]

I Can Imagine Aerith And Her Youngerself Going Like This: Young Aerith:*Gets Up* Adult Aerith:"Hey" Young Aerith:"Huh?" Adult Aerith:"It's Ok I'm You From The Future" Young Aerith:"You Are What's It Like?" Adult Aerith:"Well I'll Return Shortly" Hojo: "Oh Hi" Aerith: *Slaps Hojo* Hojo: "Ow That Hurt" Aerith: "I Know" The Townsfolk Gather Around Hojo Hojo:"That Really Hurt" Aerith:"That's Because You'll Pay For What You Done Hojo" Hojo: "I Haven't Done Anything-" Aerith: "Now I Know How Sephiroth Feels Because You LIED TO HIM" Sephiroth Walks Past Aerith And Stops To Look At Hojo Hojo:"I Would Never" Aerith:"Then You Know A Woman Named Lucretia?" Sephiroth Approaches Ilfalna And Examins Her And Tells Young Aerith:"Mako Poisoning" Young Aerith:"Can You Help?" Sephiroth:"Yes But Only If You Keep This Meeting A Secret" Young Aerith:"I Will" Sephiroth Picks Up Ilfalna And Walks Away Aerith:*Now Angry* Hojo:"Uh Oh" Aerith:"I've Had It With You Hojo" Aerith Notices Sephiroths Sword Laying On The Ground She Picks It Up And Uses It On Hojo Aerith: "I'm Done" Young Aerith Sits Down And Cries Aerith Drops Sephiroth's Sword And Also Cries They Hug It Out

[@ionel2921]

First her adventure with her mother ending and after also her adventure with the party 😢

[@jayguitones5471]

Watching this scene was so hard to watch. Poor aerith 😢

[@MTSpade]

I legit bawled my eyes out at this, not even ashamed:(

[@aaronfeliciano9768]

Just experienced this sad scene omg :(

[@trixiesauce]

Hello! I'm here after twitter being blocked in brazil, this is exactly how I feel :(

[@HamzaAliGhallu]

This scene was gut wrenching ❤

[@risquecat]

Aerith's mom didn't teach Aerith anything about being a Cetra. No songs, no prayers, no magic, absolutely nothing.

[@scottspencer9816]

Looking for a sailor in shenmue. This already happened.

[@darshio8307]

Lot of people and no one helps, just like real life omg

[@Til_What]

What a scene. And yes, I did cry like that was my mother dying. Sue me.

[@tarvinwashere]

Afterwards the veteran spirits being like “sorry we soelled that wrong it was supposed to say ‘traumas’ not ‘trials’” 😂 😵 😢

[@Mirai_uwu]

what song?

[@dontran391]

Should also show how Aerith's father Professor Ghast died too.

[@coldramentpm1013]

innocent kid 😔

[@mbush]

I think I'm the only one that didn't cry during this scene... I am also a big fat liar

[@wiffmastermase]

Part 3 deserves to be the dark sequel of the trilogy. Hojo deserves whats coming..

[@Gabstreaming]

When she starts crying as she’s walking back fuck this game bruh

[@evasivedre370]

I hate hojo.. and I’m starting to hate sephiroth too

[@davidrozone8734]

😭😭😭❤️

[@nquerosaber]

im broken

[@gibbs615]

Those slum bums were just so RUDE to her!😡 Good thing Elmyra came along when she did😉

[@jorgerivera5003]

This scene single handedly made grown adults cry (myself) and I'm talking crying crying. Gotta say the japanese dub felt worse tho

[@MR-qz3mg]

Mom n daughter never ever gets the happy ending

[@KigurumiAlice]

Darn NCP😞👌🍄🧹

[@ultiementgmr6029]

Let it be known that to all the people who were being Jerks to Kid Aerith that I Hate, Hate, Hate,Hate, Hate, Hate,Hate, Hate, Hate,Hate, Hate, Hate,Hate, Hate, Hate,Hate, Hate, Hate,Hate, Hate, Hate,Hate, Hate, Hate!!!!! them especlly that jerk who knocked right into her Sereusly all the time playing this part and hearing her cry out for help broke me, I just want to hug her and tell her everything going to be fine while trying to find a Doctor ASAP!

[@PedroZavi]

I just hope they give her a happy ending with Zack in part 3. At least she will be with someone who loves her in the stream of life

[@richardmcgowan1651]

Burtal.

[@mooner77]

😢

[@tanagreeknose7376]

Worst scene in the game

[@VidiaReePhoenix]

Not to put a damper on this scene, but people probably would have been more willing to help if she had said, "My mom is dying" instead of just "I need a doctor." For all they knew, she could have been asking for a doctor to get cold medicine. How were they supposed to know a girl calmly walking around asking for a doctor had a mother minutes away from dying?

[@trishahernz7809]

No kid is going to think their parent is dying first though.

[@VidiaReePhoenix]

@@trishahernz7809 I mean, Aerith seemed pretty aware of what was happening. Her devastation upon not finding a doctor felt a little intense for a "mommy is just sick and I couldn't find a doctor" and more in line with "I couldn't find help, is mommy going to die now?" When her mom died, she didn't even act confused, she was just sad. Seemed like she knew what was happening to me. I guess I might be interpreting the scene wrong though. Edit: Not to say I blame Aerith. Even if she didn't know better like you said, I wouldn't blame her. My point is more that it is hard to blame people for not rushing to help her when there seemed to be no sense of urgency with her request.

[@PedroZavi]

If Leto rejected Arrakis, there would be no Dune story

[@NathanMUFCfan]

If a young child approaches adults and asks for any kind of help, 99% would help. They would at least answer the question. Shouldn't need to tell them that her mom is dying. The scene is completely unbelievable, because people wouldn't react the way these people did. Especially the people that laugh at her and call her a brat. That is so unnecessarily evil, it's actually comical.

[@Cho-s4z]

​@@NathanMUFCfan I know right and I'm confused on why...

[@matt-30-]

This is on the level of a cartoon.

[@Jenova867]

Yeah it all went downhill after this scene whenever Aerith is a child it breaks my heart seeing what she went through

[@moefelemban]

Poor Aerith 😢