(This review may contain spoilers).
As a general rule, I don’t normally watch films I know will make me sad. But, of course, there are always exceptions – and this film looked like it was still worth seeing.
Again, I haven’t actually read the book this film is based on – though one of my friends says it’s really sad – so I’m judging this based on seeing the film alone.
Terminal illness is a big part of our reality. There are lots of people who suffer from one kind or another, but in a way, although it’s awful when anyone becomes ill, I think it’s so much worse when it’s young people.
This film was a really difficult one to watch. I felt there were true emotions portrayed and that the actors played the characters fantastically well. There were some moments of humour, but they didn’t detract from the serious nature of the film. I felt it was just the right balance.
One of the things I felt this film did well was portraying the different attitudes of people; those suffering from the terminal illness as well as the people having to watch their loved ones suffer. I can imagine that, in reality, it’s hard not to get upset about losing someone while they’re still around.
The relationship between the main characters came across really well. It was one that I could believe in and I felt there was true chemistry between the characters. There was still conflict involved, but there was a lot that was bittersweet and really good about it.
I don’t want to say much more here, because I don’t want to spoil anything about the film. But if you’re on the fence about seeing this film… yes, it is sad. You go in with a fairly good idea of what’s going to happen. But it’s also about the people involved and their relationships. With that in mind, I’d say that this film is worth watching… and probably, the book’s worth reading.
Would I watch this film again? Probably not. But I think it was intense and good to watch the first time.
