ALL THE BRIGHT PLACES

US, 2020, 107 minutes, Colour.
Elle Fanning, Justice Smith, Alexandra Shipp, Kelli O' Hara, Lamar Johnson, Virginia Gardner, Keegan- Michael Key, Luke Wilson.
Directed by Brett Haley.

This film is based on a young adult novel, perhaps geared towards younger adults, written by Jennifer Nevin who co-wrote the screenplay.

It is a serious look at adolescents and their problems, with a message at the end referring audiences who have experienced a disturbance by the themes to consult the film’s webpage.

Elle Fanning plays, Violet, the younger sister of a woman who died in a car crash. She is distinctly disturbed by the death of her sister, her best friend. She contemplates suicide. Justice Smith portrays a young student, Finish, who frequently runs, finds Violet on the bridge and is able to bring her down. He continually intervenes in her life, helping her, going out with her, bike riding, eventually persuading her to overcome her apprehensions and get into a car, sharing a partnership in a school project to visit sites in Indiana.

However, he also has deep problems, memories of the cruel father, sharing life with his sister, being uncooperative with his counsellor (Keegan- Michael Key), considered by the others at school as a freak. He has many post it’s on his wall, often urging him to be awake.

The friendship blossoms but Finch disappears for days at a time, which makes Violet anxious. They have shared the happy visit to a pond and, when he disappears after a vicious fight with a student in the corridor, defending Violet, Violet goes to the pond and finds his clothes.

The film finishes with his funeral – and the message for any audiences who are anxious after sharing the experience of the film.

1. The title, bright places, right places? Wrong places?

2. The Indiana setting, the town, homes, school, roads, overpass and bridge? The range of countryside, the highest place in Indiana, the rollercoaster, the pond for swimming, support group meetings? The musical score?

3. A film for young adults? The younger adults? The information at the end about young people, mental disturbance, suicide?

4. Finch, age, running, seeing Violet, on the bridge, urging her down, his humorous dramatics? The background to his own life, stories about his father and cruelty, the support of his sister? The discussions with the counsellor, his lack of cooperation? At school, Violet dropping her books and his making the commotion? The sites of Indiana, his proposal to work with Violet? The song, deleting it for her? The gradual meetings, the bike rides, gaining her confidence? Yet his own background and students calling him a freak?

5. Violet, age, the story of the accident, her sister’s death, the effect on her, standing on the bridge, Finch saving her? At home, her parents, the cake for her sister’s birthday? The later apologising for insensitivity? At school, her friends, urge to go to the party, upset and leaving? Finch and the song, her wanting him to delete it? Gradually getting to know him? The outings, talking, smiling, not wanting to go into a car, riding the bikes? His sleeping on the lawn and introduction to her parents?

6. The teacher, the class, the proposal about the project and the sites of Indiana?

7. The excursion, the highest point of Indiana, the humour, the countryside, the jump from the monument stone? The further rides together? Finch proposing they go to the rollercoaster, driving carefully, her becoming more comfortable in the car? The exhilaration of the rollercoaster?

8. The outings together, kissing, feelings towards each other? Going to the pond, the swimming, Finch’s story about the boys disappearing, the background of his holding his breath in the bath and his going underwater, Violet upset?

9. The night out together, the sexual encounter? Her parents upset with Finch?

10. Violet and her friends, meeting Finch’s friends, their continued friendship with him, his disappearances, their explanations, Violet’s anxiety, phone, not answering, suddenly reappearing at her parents’ home?

11. Finch and his mental condition, his wanting to keep awake, his room, the post-its? Tearing them down? Discussions with his sister about their father, his regrets? The cut on his side?

12. The advice of the counsellor, the group meeting, Violet’s friend and her talking about suicide?

13. The fight with the boy in the corridor, his being vicious? Violet’s disappointment?

14. His disappearance, Violet going to the pond, his clothes, gone? Her grief? The support of her parents? The funeral?

15. The sadness of the film, people reaching out to help, Finch and his ability to help others but not himself, leading to suicide?