But there is no actual death or love in a movie or book and yet we react as if there is. It's literally what qualifying a movie as a "tear-jerker” is. I wanted to see Saving Private Ryan in theaters to bond with my Grandpa who received a Purple Heart in the Korean War, I was shutdown almost instantly from my family. All special effects and no death but he had PTSD and one night thought his wife was the N.K. and nearly choked her to death because he had flashbacks and she came into the bedroom quietly so he wasn't disturbed. Extreme example yes, but having him loose his shit in public because of something analogous for some is near enough it makes no difference.