Movie review:- Me Before You
I watched a movie recently Me Before You, based on a book of the same name. A heartfelt story about a woman, Louisa, who is hired as a carer for a quadriplegic man, Will who has suffered a spinal cord injury rendering him completely disabled from neck below when a motorbike hit him. Will was a banker and an adventurous soul. Having lived life to its fullest and now limited to wheelchair, he is unable to cope up and decides that he will end his life in six months with assisted suicide facility available in Switzerland. His mother has hired Lou in hope that her charming nature might change his mind.
Spoilers ahead…
She tries her best by organizing trips and fun things to show Will there’s a lot to live for. They go to Will’s ex’s wedding where they fall in love. But he is adamant on his decision and tells her the same leaving her heartbroken.
Movie ends on a bitter sweet note, where Lou reads a letter by Will who has left her enough money to follow her dreams
The book/movie caused a lot of controversy on how it portrayed disability and suicide as ultimate option when one is unable to live with it instead of the usual motivational tropes of never giving up and having a positive outlook on life no matter the circumstances.
But I am in two minds. One one hand my brain and heart roots for a good old predictable and cliched happy ending where Lou would have ultimately changed his mind and they would live happily ever after.
On the other hand I wonder is it fair, for her to ask him to continue living miserably and not take his life as she has fallen in love with him deeply?
Isn’t it a little selfish? I guess that’s why the title Me Before You stands implying one’s own interest presiding over others. Both the central characters wants something for themselves over their partner’s wishes.
I also want to talk about how Lou has cheated on her boyfriend, who wasn’t a good fit anyhow. He gifts her a pendant with his initials on her birthday. Yet somehow Lou seems like a victim as she has cheated on him with a disabled man (irrespective of how much he cares for her). This was problematic.
The underlying message that I interpreted is people will come and go in your life. You can try to hold on to them deeply and fight for them but sometimes even love isn’t sufficient to keep them.
