Many people grieved the loss of a comic legend and genuinely amazing human being this past summer. I read countless stories about how devastated fans were inconsolable at Robin Williams’ passing Aug. 11. These people were touched by his work and inspired by his manic humor.

Though I did not have that completely cosmic connection to the late great Williams, his death still touched me. The day before this great man died, my great-grandfather passed after battling lung cancer, and as I mourned my loss, the world mourned as well. I got through the last month by watching Williams’ films, many of which were rather heartbreaking to get through given the circumstances of his death. While many found comfort in “Aladdin” and “Hook,” I found myself watching his more depressing, or at least lesser known, films. Here I will speak on the films that gave me comfort and clarity in the aftermath of this comic’s death.

“The Fisher King”

Director Terry Gilliam’s (“Monty Python Live (Mostly)”) crazed world is a perfect setting for a story of redemption, fantasy and heartbreak. Shock jock Jack Lucas, played by Jeff Bridges (“The Giver”), goes off on a tirade, which causes a mass shooting. After meeting the deranged husband of a victim, played by Robin Williams, Lucas must come to grips with his own actions and the moral implications of his return to radio. This is an especially heart-wrenching choice: a metaphorical red knight chases Parry, symbolizing his distress and fear in the wake of his loss. This red knight feels emblematic of everything that was really chasing Williams, and resonates for anyone who has ever despaired at their current situation. Williams’ performance as Parry was meltingly sweet and over-the-top zany. This mix landed him an Oscar nomination, and proved he really could merge the two aspects of his acting in one fell swoop.

“Death to Smoochy”

Williams really wasn’t given enough credit for his brilliant performance as Rainbow Randolph, a defamed child’s performer who seeks revenge. Between his strange accents, crazed schemes and his hectic fame-fueled invectives, Randolph was perhaps the weirdest choice for a man who used to entertain children. It doesn’t hurt that Edward Norton’s sweet, innocent disposition easily balances Williams’ zaniness, and Catherine Keener is equally wry and funny as the love interest characters fight over.

Though critics found this film too weird to be funny, the strange juxtaposition between Williams and Norton really did it for me, and proved that dark comedies need a wild card to work. If you want to see the real genius of Williams and his perverse manic energy, this is the film to see.

“World’s Greatest Dad”

This is definitely the film to watch if you want to cry. Williams plays an underappreciated poetry teacher at a high school who wants to be a published author. He lives with his son, who is so cretinous and perverted that no one likes him and he lives his life as a pariah. Bobcat Goldthwait (“Maron”), a stand-up himself, wrote and directed this lively tale of generational disconnect, which proves to be funny if not eye-opening to the realities of grief.

The film deals heavily on the subject of suicide, which is stomach-churning enough, but the real kicker is a two-minute performance by Williams. There is no sound except for music in the background. Williams finds his son’s body, and in that moment feels the brunt of everything to come and what has already happened.  It’s devastating to see that amount of emotion, which Williams lays bare. In that short span of time, Williams is so raw that it’s almost uncomfortable. Realizing how tangible that moment is really hammers home how devastating suicide is for those left behind.

“The World According to Garp”

This is one of Williams’ more whimsical and understated performances. He never seems more normal than he does as Garp, the illegitimate son of a nurse who defies gender conventions to become a modest legend. Garp becomes a writer, falls in love, meets interesting people and deals with his mother, who can’t seem to convert to normality. For its time, this film says quite a bit about the world, including politics, gender and religion. Williams is very subdued in his role, but it is with aplomb that he shows genuine love: for his wife, his children and his mother. For a real glimpse into what it is to be family, this quirky tale is just what you need.

There are so many facets of Robin Williams’ wonderful character, a man who has innumerable amounts of accolades, awards and fans. Like the red knight, Williams’ death serves as a grandiose metaphor for anyone who is suffering, especially with the loss of a loved one. At least we can mourn him through everything he left behind.