Almost a decade ago, a cinematic masterpiece titled ‘Me Before You’ broke hearts all around the globe. Released on June 3rd, 2016, this film accumulated $208 million worldwide and was a big hit when coming out. Jojo Moyes, the author of the original book behind the movie, adapted it for the big screen. Rated PG-13, this movie is a romantic drama bound to make viewers end up with tear-stained cheeks.
‘Me Before You’ guides viewers through a journey filled with tears and laughter. With real and disheartening topics like disability and suicide, this film has people wanting more, even with its almost two-hour length. Although fictional, this is reality and can happen to anyone at any time. It teaches lessons on careful driving and living life to the fullest. Moyes felt inspired by the very real suffering of people who have disabilities.
The lead actress, Emilia Clarke, plays Louisa Clark, a creative, full-of-spirit, 26-year-old woman who has just gotten laid off as a café waitress. In her small town in Britain, the only job available is to be a caretaker of a wealthy, paralyzed man, Will Traynor. Unbeknownst to Clark, Will Traynor is a 31-year-old man, not much older than her.
Played by Sam Claflin, Will Traynor is a hostile man who can’t find the ability to find joy in his life because of his disability, which happened when he got hit by a motorcycle two years before the setting of the movie. Before the incident together, these two create a passionate story with major character development and intense feelings.
Even though this movie is admittedly difficult to watch with an inevitable tragedy, it is still the first choice for movie night and a huge recommendation. It shows the harsh truth that some things will never change no matter how good life feels at the time, and certain things can outweigh even the strongest feelings. The famous saying “If you love it, let it go” is expressed in this film. Will wants to give Louisa everything, but he feels as if he can’t do that and that an able-bodied man would give her the things that she wants.
“Me Before You” won’t fail to leave watchers thinking and mourning. This is one of those films you wish to watch for the first time again. Combining the deep themes and the way the actors convince the audience that these emotions are raw and real makes the story blossom and bloom, coming to life. I could not recommend this movie enough. There’s not a single part in it where I wasn’t invested. It’s genuinely one of the greatest films ever created. The concept of wanting something you know you can’t have is very present and seen in today’s world, so to tie it in a movie this way is genius and heartbreaking. It has left a permanent tattoo on my heart
