Numbers obtained from IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes on June 3, 2016.
My rating IMDb Rotten Tomatoes
Critics Audience Critics Audience
8/10 52/100 8.1/10 54% 84%
I went to a screening of Me Before You in New York on June 1st and, to my surprise, I came across a protest by disabled people in front of the movie theater. As I got closer, I noticed that the target of the protest was precisely this movie!
Protesters held posters, distributing pamphlets and asked not to watch this it. They argued that both the film and the book on which it is based portray people with disabilities in a prejudicial manner, as if it portrayed that the lives of disable people are worthless. To better understand the protest, you need to know what happens in the movie.
Adapted by Jojo Moyes, the same author of the book, Me Before You tells the story of Will Traynor (Sam Claflin), a young billionaire who is left quadriplegic after an accident. A couple of years later, his mother decides to hire Louisa Clark (Emilia Clarke) to be his “carer” for six months. This doesn’t include medical or hygienical care – there is a nurse hired especially for this. Lou’s job it’s to try to cheer him up.
Until then, there is not much reason to protest. The group outside the cinema, members of the “Not Dead Yet” organization, is angry with what happens towards the end of the film. Therefore, I should warn you that there will be SPOILERS in the next 3 paragraphs.
Will decides he does not want to live that way and thus will go to a clinic in Switzerland specialized in assisted suicide. Louisa, as well as his parents, tries to convince him that life is worth living, but she’s isn’t able to change his decision to die. And this is what has been the target of fierce criticism.
The flyer I received says the film shows death as a “honorable” way
out and that after disabled people die, they would no longer be a “burden” to others. They also use the hashtag #MeBeforeEuthanasia.
It is understandable that people with disabilities are against any form of assisted suicide. However, after watching the movie, I don’t think it’s propaganda in favor of euthanasia. My take from the movie is that it is clear it’s Will’s decision, despite the fact that everyone around him tried to convince him that he could live fully and be loved even in a wheelchair. It was his choice and I don’t think there has been a generalization.
Having said that, the film itself has comic moments and romance, following A Walk to Remember and The Fault in Our Stars. Emilia Clarke is great as Louisa, making funny faces wearing the character’s crazy wardrobe. Sam Claflin also is good as Will and the couple is great together, in my opinion.
There is a scene where they go to a concert that reminded me a lot of a scene in Pretty Woman where Richard Gere and Julia Roberts’ characters go to the opera for several reasons: Louisa had never been to a classical concert before and gets emotional, Will is very happy to see her like that and she’s wearing a red dress!
For those who like this kind of movie, it’s worth watching. A warning to those who cry at the movies: I heard a lot of people crying at Wednesday’s screening…
