MIDNIGHT SUN

US, 2018, 91 minutes, Colour.
Bella Thorne, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Rob Riggle, Quinn Shephard.
Directed by Scott Speer.

This is a remake of a Japanese film, this version designed for older teenagers and younger young adults. It is very emotional film – and, for those who enjoy this genre, reminiscent of stories by Nicholas Sparks.

Bella Thorne has an illness, a one in a million illness, her being unable to bear any sunlight, confining her to her house, homeschooled by her father. He is played by Rob Riggle quite differently from his deadpan comedy roles.

Katie graduates from homeschooling, wants to go out, gets permission to play her music at the railway station, by chance encountering Charlie, Patrick Schwarzenegger, whom she had watched as a child skateboarding past her house. There is a romantic development – they’re going out, going to parties, enjoying his company, not telling him the truth.

One outing leads to her not checking her watch and their having to hurry home, but her being touched by the sunlight. There are hospital sequences, tests, and not responding to Charlie when he comes the house, and the couple have some time before she dies.

Older adults will probably either have some nostalgia or feel that the film is far to submit sentimental for their taste – it is certainly geared to the younger audience.

1. Young adult story? Geared for the target audience?

2. The American town, homes, the beach, clubs, parties, hospitals? The musical score?

3. The title, the focus on Katie, her one in a million illness, confine to home, the dark, the danger from the sun?

4. Katie and her dreams of her mother, at the beach, the guitar, her mother’s death in the accident? Her growing up, the continued inpatient care from her father?

5. Her life, looking out the window, seeing Patrick running, watching him over the years? Morgan and her visit, strong minded, continually visiting and supporting Katie?

6. Kate has a teenager, wanting to go out, at home, playing and composing? The graduation, home taught, the support of her father?

7. Permission to go out, curfews, at the railway station, playing and singing, the encounter with Charlie? Her awkwardness, leaving her book behind, his reading it, Morgan and her organising Katie to go out, meeting Charlie again?

8. The bond with Charlie, not telling her that she knew him, not telling him about her illness? Going to the parties, the noise and the crowds, the bonding with Charlie, walking? Talking? His coming to meet her father?

9. The outing, on the train, Coney Island, the swim, the watch stopping? The hurrying home, into the house, the touch of the sun?

10. Going to the doctor, the danger from any sun, the consultations and tests, the hopes for the trial? Her becoming ill?

11. Charlie learning the disease, googling and learning? Her rejecting his texts, his coming to the house, a reconciliation?

12. The ruins, getting permission to go out into the sun, on the yacht, the time together, her death, the funeral of the scattering of the ashes?

13. Charlie, his swimming, Katie’s intervention, her father support of Charlie?

14. A story of tears and joy – especially for the older teenage audience, young adults?