THEN CAME YOU

US, 2018, 97 minutes, Colour.

Asa Butterfield, Maisie Williams, Nina Dobrev, Tyler Hoechlin, David Koechner, Peyton List, Titus Burgess, Margot Bingham, Ken Jeong, Angel Valle Jr.

Directed by Peter Hutchings.

The alternate title for this film is Departures. Which is appropriate as regards location for much of the action takes place at Albany airport. But, on a more serious level, the film focuses on terminal cancer for a teenage woman, her having to face illness and death, her wanting more out of life, preparing a bucket list of eccentric behaviour, and trying to put it into practice. She is played by Maisie Williams who made an impact in Game of Thrones.

The other main member of the cast is Calvin, played by Asa Butterfield (who already has a very strong career with such films as Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, Hugo, X+Y, Sex Education). He plays the withdrawn Calvin whose family works at the airport, he tagging along with the luggage, concerned about his health, denying that he is a hypochondriac. Persuaded to go to a support group for the terminally ill, he encounters Skye and they begin an oddball friendship.

Most of the action shows the growing friendship between the two, Calvin concealing his health situation, Skye wanting to get everything out of life. A complication is Calvin’s attraction to a flight attendant, Izzy (Nina Dobrev). Skye encourages the relationship but Izzy discovers that Calvin was not telling the truth. However, they go out together and Izzy organises with her boss for a simulation flight, all situations and attentiveness, for Calvin who has never flown.

The other characters in the film are Calvin’s father, a surprise performance from David Koechner, his older brother and his wife who is expecting.

And there is some incidental and unexpected comedy routines from Ken Jeong as a sympathetic policeman who encourages Skye with fulfilling her bucket list.

1. The title? The alternative title, Departures?
2. American production? British stars? An American in universal story? Terminal cancer? Shyness and withdrawal? Unusual meeting and attraction? The fulfilling of a bucket list before death?
3. The locations, the city, the American city? The scenes filmed at Albany airport? The significance of the airport? The musical score?
4. Skye’s story, her age, her parents, her illness, the diagnosis, terminal? Her going to the support group? Her vivacity, eager to make the most of the rest of her life? The encounter with Calvin, attracted to him, believing he had cancer? The buildup of the friendship, their meetings, sharing her bucket list, the range of adventures? Her attraction to Will, high school, the sexual encounter, the aftermath, her discussing it with Calvin? Calvin and the attraction to Izzy, Skye promoting it? The deterioration of her health, her dependence on Calvin, his support of her? Her death?
5. Calvin’s story, health, introverted and withdrawn, hypochondriac? His father’s concern, his older brother? Work at the airport? The attraction to Izzy? Persuaded to go to the support group, revelations, encounter with Skye? Meeting her, the discussions, coming out of himself, unable to tell her the truth about his health? Sharing her bucket list, their adventures? His reaction to her spending the night with Will? His own attraction to Izzy, meeting her at the airport, her work, conversations? His work at the airport, driving the vehicle, luggage? His awkwardness, his never having flown? Izzy and her boss arranging for the simulation, enjoying the flight? Izzy put off about his health, relationship with Skye? The ultimate reconciliation? His response to his father, his brother, sister-in-law, the baby? Finally going on a flight and beginning the rest of his life?
6. Izzy, flight attendant, age, attraction, her work, meeting Calvin at the airport, their going out, his not telling her the truth about his health? Skye? The change of heart, arranging the simulation flight? A future?
7. The airport background, Calvin’s father and his work, Frank and his work, Calvin sitting reading on the vehicles? The flight attendants? The bosses? Simulations?
8. The incidental comedy with Ken Jeong, police, the encounter, discussions, help?
9. A film for younger audiences to identify with?