Emilia Clarke Sam Clafin Janet McTeer Charles Dance Brendan Coyle Jenna Coleman
This movie was in very good hands, beginning
with the novel and screenplay by Jojo Moyes, direction by Thea Sharrock,
accomplished actors, and music by Craig Armstrong. It illustrates the joys and hardships of a serious medical
condition and models constructive ways to deal with it. Will Traynor (Clafin) has had a serious
accident that injured his spinal cord and keeps him confined to a wheelchair. Before that (as in the title, Me Before You), he seemed to have
everything: looks, successful job,
privileged loving family, and a beautiful blonde girlfriend. Keenly aware of his losses, he is
acerbic and bitter most days or simply silent.
Will needs a new caretaker, so his mother
(McTeer) interviews a young woman who has clearly not been coached in her
responses to questions, but allows enough of her bright, giving personality to
shine through for Mrs. Traynor to see enough of her good intentions and warm
heart to give her a chance. Enter
Lou Clark (Clarke) with her sunny disposition, old-fashioned charm, funky
clothes, and a bit of clumsiness into this well-to-do setting with an educated
but embittered young man.
The film is engaging in the way it takes us
through the collision of two classes of people, one highly educated and
wealthy, the other scraping by economically but demonstrative and
outspoken. The collision is only a
little fender-bender, as Will and Lou gradually develop a friendship that is
beneficial to both. It goes
through stages from initial guardedness, to some straight talk (her letting him
know he needs to shape up), to friendly competition, to kidding, and finally to
genuine enjoyment in each other’s company. He makes playful comments like “Your life is duller than
mine” and “Where did you pick up your exotic tastes?” (referring to her choices
in clothes and shoes). She gets
him back in touch with simple enjoyments in life in the past and the
present. There is a good lesson in
the film here for people in wheelchairs:
Don’t just hibernate at home.
People need people, and thus the film shows the
value of a sister’s (Emilia’s, played by Coleman) advice and encouragement, a
father’s (Emilia’s, played by Coyle) empathic support, the reasonable wrestling
with a big decision by Will’s father (Dance) and mother, and Will’s plea to
Emilia for her understanding of his decisions and her standing by him.
Me Before
You is thoughtful and provocative, true to life, and full of pointers for
people undergoing trauma, as well as those around him/her. It helps us see that significant events
and relationships may change us across time in unpredictable ways, but it’s
generally in a positive direction given sufficient support and comfort. Lou brightens Will’s life considerably,
and he helps her realize her potential in ways she probably would never have
imagined without his prodding.
Clarke and Clafin make this film what it is to
moviegoers, and the viewer is transfixed watching them. Behind them is the sensitive,
knowledgeable novel and screenplay by Moyes and the astute direction of
Sharrock (her debut of a feature film direction). Bravo!
I hope everyone gets the important
message of this film: Individual
freedom to choose.
