ME BEFORE YOU
UK, 2016, 110 minutes, Colour.
Emilia Clarke, Sam Claflin, Janet Mc Teer, Charles Dance, Brendan Coyle, Samantha Spiro, Jenna Coleman, Matthew Lewis.
Directed by Thea Sharrock.
One might say that this is a pleasingly emotional film. interestingly, some more cerebral reviewers have been harsh on the film, especially being critical of the presentation of disability. The many readers of the novel and the higher than expected success of the film, on the other hand, suggests that these reviewers were not responding to the characters, the situations and the emotions but to ideas about treatment of themes. The screenplay was written by the novelist, Jojo Moyes.
Already the title indicates that there will be interactions between two people, the me and the you. But it depends on whom we identify as the me and whom we identify as the you. One is Lou, Louisa, a cheerful young woman in her mid-20s who eventually takes a job of day-carer for Will, and up-and-coming young executive who is injured in a street accident and is now quadriplegic. In terms of the title, it is Lou who puts Will before everyone else. She is played by Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones).
There have been a number of recent novels and films about young people with terminal illness, like The Fault in Our Stars. This time the protagonists are in their mid-20s and early 30s, appealing to a more adult audience. Lou is a charmingly effervescent personality. Will, on the other hand, played by Sam Claflin (who appeared in The Hunger Games films) has become depressed and embittered because of his inability to live now the life of his former self.
We are wary of identifying Will’s psychological profile because he is not able to be his real self – although he contrasts himself with Lou in a discussion about how they handle situations. He says that he sees things, processes this and makes decisions.
Will comes from a very wealthy family, who seem to be owners or custodians of the local ruined castle, quite an imposing presence in the town, and the setting for some of the scenes between Lou and Will. (The final credits acknowledge Pembroke Castle.) With money as no object, this is a kind of modern fairytale, a contemporary Cinderella story.
In many ways the plotline is predictable enough, the gruff patient will mellow because of the attentions of his attractive carer. However, there is a deeper underlying sub-plot, Will dissatisfied with his life and contacting a Dignity Centre in Switzerland with the prospect of assisted suicide. His parents are concerned, allowing him six months to make up his mind, his father being more rational about the situation (Charles Dance in quite a sympathetic role), his mother not wanting him to die (Janet McTeer), and growing appreciative of all the care that Lou takes of her son.
As regards points of view about assisted suicide, the screenplay presents both points of view quite strongly, Will and his previous attempt at killing himself, determined that this is the best action for himself, Lou and her love for him, wanting to stay with him, and, while she goes to him in Switzerland, is prepared to do everything she can so that he will live. Other films which offer comparisons on this theme include The Sea Within, Million Dollar Baby and The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.
While Will is played (eventually) quite sympathetically by Sam Claflin, it is Lou who makes the strong impression. She is a strong personality who lives in the present, cheerful and described as “chatty” (although that is the last thing that Will wants when she first arrives). Lou has lived a fairly limited life, belongs to a loving family, and is kindness personified. She does say she would have liked to study: fashion. She loves clothes, something different, bright even loud, every day.
When Will shows her the DVD of Of Gods and Men, the first one she has watched with subtitles, she is overwhelmed. Something of an intuitive challenge. While she decides to draw Will out of himself (a visit to the races where she definitely backs the wrong horse and a rapturous attendance with him at a Mozart concert), Will is broadening her horizons, giving her more of a reason to live which makes his final declaration to Lou after she has offered her unconditional love to him even sadder.
Though she is a person who lives in the present, not a decider. But her growing love and care offer a challenge, investigating and making decisions of ways and travels to bring Will out of his cocooned self.
Perhaps the title should have focused on Lou and called the film Me For You.
1. The title, the two characters, the me and the you? Love and self-sacrifice? Romance?
2. The popularity of the film, the popularity of the novel, adaptation by the novelist?
3. The themes of love, disability, care, the issue of depression and assisted suicide?
4. The UK locations, the town, the imposing presence of the castle and the visits to the castle, the ordinary homes, cafe? Shops? The contrast with the wealthy house, interiors, grounds? The musical score?
5. The introduction to, Will, Alicia as his girlfriend, his life, business, going to work, carefree (and the later video showing all his sports activities and daring)? Preoccupied, the phone, on the street, knocked over by the motorbike? Quadriplegic?
6. Lou, seeing her first at the cafe, the cakes and sugar but the two ladies eating them standing up, her packing the sandwich for the old lady? The pay packet and her being dismissed? Home, the family, father and his being out of work, but genial, the mother and her being busy, stoic about the loss of income? The daughter, her son? Grandfather?
7. Lou, looking for a job, the interview, and not being able to do some jobs, the chance offer for the Traynor family, not requiring qualifications, the willingness to learn, the good money? The family happy about this?
8. Lou and her personality, her age, cheerful, chatty, kind with everyone, outgoing? The love of clothes and fashion, the extraordinary range of what she wore throughout the film? Her ability to live in the present, to be with people?
9. Going to the interview, with Mrs Traynor, her ill-considered jokes, tearing her dress and being embarrassed, her going in to see Will, the initial reaction, his surliness and moodiness? Mrs Traynor and her advice? Seeing Mr Traynor and his welcome? Seeing Nathan, his many patients, his care with Will, explaining the routines to Lou, exercise, medication, timetables, the needs for caring for a quadriplegic?
10. The significance of the wealth of the family, money no object?
11. Lou, the initial encounters, Will not wanting to be chatty, Lou offering cups of tea, time for herself, lunch, reading? The collage of her waking up in the morning, going to work, her reaction – and possibly finding it too much? The discussions with her sister and her sister’s encouragement? And the opportunity for the sister to go away to do further studies?
12. The details of Lou’s work, turning him, adjusting the pillow, his calling her Clarke?
13. Lou, her interesting clothes, the range of clothes, talking, anxious? discussions with Nathan? The idea of the outings, going to the races, backing the wrong horse? The Mozart concert? His getting pneumonia, her being called to the hospital?
14. Inviting Will to dinner, birthday, to meet her parents, their initial awkwardness, but kindness? His pleasant response? Patrick’s response, negative? His arranging for Lou’s father to get the job at the castle?
15. Patrick, character, with Lou for seven years, continued running, Lou not able to run, trying to ride the bike? The holiday in Norway after the events? His coming to her birthday? His gift with his name? Will and his giving her the tights? Her favourite colours? Grandfather and the album?
16. The visit of Alicia and Rupert, the invitation to the wedding, the decision to go? Lou accompanying Will? And the interlude where she spoke with Joanna Lumley?
17. Effect on Will, preparation for the holiday, the flight, the enjoyment, Lou and her love for Will?
18. The letter, assisted suicide? The decision? The parents waiting six months? His decision to go through with the suicide, talking with his parents, talking with Lou? Her being so upset?
19. Persistent, urging her to go to Switzerland, going, Will’s room, the beautiful view? With Will, her love, his parents and their reliance on her?
20. His death, his earlier meeting the lawyer, the bequest for Lou, his Paris story, his letter to her, her going to Paris, sitting where he sat, part of his life – and her walking away with his gift of the clothes?
