Me Before You (film)

Plot

26-year-old Louisa Clark (Emilia Clarke) is a happy, outgoing woman who lives with and supports her working-class family. After losing her job at a local cafe, she is hired as the caregiver of Will Traynor (Sam Claflin), a former successful banker and once active young man who became paralyzed after being involved in a motorcycle accident two years prior. Louisa has no experience but Will's mother believes her positivity will help lift his spirits. Will also spends time with Nathan, his physical therapist, who mostly helps him with exercise and movement, despite both knowing he will never regain use of his body due to the damage to his spinal cord.

Cynical and depressed because he can no longer live a life of luxury, he initially reacts coldly to Louisa's joyful wackiness and treats her with contempt. However, one night, Will asks Louisa to stay late and watch a film with him, and she accepts. The two begin to bond and eventually become close friends. Will also has a visit from his former best friend and ex-girlfriend who reveal they are engaged and would like Will to attend the wedding. Louisa and Will continue to talk daily; she learns that Will has travelled extensively, his favourite place being Paris. She tells him that outside of work, she doesn't have many interests or hobbies, and spends most of her time at home. She has a long-term boyfriend, Patrick (Matthew Lewis), but he is currently training to take part in a biking triathlon in Norway, a hobby that he often chooses over spending time with her. Will urges Louisa to change and tells her she should live life as fully as possible.

While at work one day, Louisa overhears Will's parents and she learns that Will has given his parents six months before taking him to Dignitas in Switzerland for assisted suicide. He cannot deal with the pain and suffering of his disability and wishes for his old self to come back, but because this isn't a possibility, he has asked his parents to do this one thing for him. Louisa also notices Will's scarred wrists from previous suicide attempts. Upon knowing this, Louisa secretly makes it her mission to change his mind and organises various trips and adventures to try and prove to Will that life is worth living, despite his disability. Will gradually becomes more communicative and open-minded as they spend more time together. The pair go to a Mozart concert, watch the horse racing, Will meets Louisa's family on her birthday, and they eventually decide to attend Will's ex-girlfriend's wedding together.

Meanwhile, Louisa's father loses his job, causing more financial difficulties for their family. Fortunately, Will's father offers him a job and Louisa realises that Will is trying to help her secure her freedom from her family. They soon develop strong feelings for one another, ending her relationship with Patrick.

During their final trip to the island of Mauritius together, Will confesses how he still intends to follow through with the euthanasia, despite his love for her, as he wants her to live a full life instead of "half a life" with him. He says their time together has been special, but he cannot bear to live in a wheelchair. However, he asks for her to accompany him to Switzerland to say goodbye. Angry and hurt, she informs Will's parents she has quit upon arriving back in the United Kingdom, and does not speak to Will for the days that follow. However, at home, Louisa's father persuades her to go to Will and enjoy the time they have left. She knows it is the right thing to do and flies to Switzerland to be with Will in his final moments.

After his death, he writes her a letter, which she reads while dining at his favourite cafe in Paris, one place he told her she must visit. He explains he has left her just enough money to follow her dreams, and instructs her to "live well" or "just live".

Cast

Production

On April 2, 2014, it was announced Thea Sharrock would direct the film. On September 2, 2014, Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin were cast in the film. On March 24, 2015, Stephen Peacocke was cast in the film. On April 2, 2015, Jenna Coleman and Charles Dance were cast in the film. On April 9, 2015, Janet McTeer joined the cast. On April 10, 2015, Brendan Coyle, Matthew Lewis, Samantha Spiro, Vanessa Kirby, and Ben Lloyd-Hughes joined the cast.

Filming

Principal photography began in April 2015, and ended on June 26, 2015. The film was shot in various locations in the UK, including Pembroke, Wales, and Chenies Manor House, Chenies, Buckinghamshire, England for the wedding scenes, while Majorca, Spain, stands in for Mauritius.

Release

In July 2014, it was announced that the film would be released on August 21, 2015. In May 2015, the film's release date was moved to June 3, 2016. In November 2015, the film's release date was moved back, to March 4, 2016, before being delayed again in January 2016, to its previous June 3, 2016 release date.

Box office

Me Before You grossed $56.2 million in North America and over $151.2 million in other territories for a total of $207.4 million, against a budget of $20 million.

In North America, Me Before You opened on June 3, 2016 alongside Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows and was expected to gross around $15 million from 2,704 theaters in its opening weekend. The film grossed $1.4 million from its Thursday night previews and $7.8 million on its first day. In its opening weekend the film grossed $18.3 million, finishing third at the box office behind Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows ($35.3 million) and X-Men: Apocalypse ($22.3 million).

Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a rating of 58% based on 151 reviews; the average rating is 5.5/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Me Before You benefits from Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin's alluring chemistry, although it isn't enough to compensate for its clumsy treatment of a sensitive subject." On Metacritic the film has a score of 51 out of 100 based on 36 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale.

Controversy

The film has suffered a backlash from many people in the disability rights movement due to what they perceive as an underlying message that people with disabilities are a burden on their families and careers, and claim the film promotes the view that people are better off dead than disabled. They view the film as advocating suicide so that their loved ones can "live boldly". The #MeBeforeEuthanasia backlash has been led by celebrities with disabilities such as Liz Carr, Penny Pepper, Mik Scarlet and Cherylee Houston and Not Dead Yet UK in the UK, and Dominick Evans, Emily Ladau and activists from Not Dead Yet in the US. Protests in the US occurred in Los Angeles, New York City, Boston, various locations in Colorado and Texas, Atlanta, Baltimore, Connecticut, Rochester, San Francisco, and multiple locations around the country. The film was also heavily protested in Australia.