No matter how dark and depressing the situation — choose life; this is the message of the film.
CINEMA rating: PG13
Technical assessment: 3
Moral assessment: 3.5
Stella Grant (Haley Lu Richardson), a teenage patient w ithcystic fibrosis (CF) is restricted by a routine regimen and the precaution to observe at least 6-feet distance from fellow CF patients to lessen the risk of cross infection for their life-threatening illness. Stella adheres to this restriction and makes herself engaged instead in social media where she shares awareness about CF. At the hospital she meets Will Newman (Cole Sprouse), also a CF patient who is on medication trial but unlike Stella, Will is lax about the restrictions of their sickness. Stella reminds him to observe the rules which Will agrees on the condition that they reduce the distance between them from six to five feet. They start falling for each other and secretly go on dates. When Stella’s best friend Poe (Moises Ramirez) dies, she is saddened that she never got to hug him; she decides not to let her condition waste her life, not being able to touch the people she loves. Wearing gloves so she can hold hands with Will, their next date brings them to the pool edge, and then she falls.
Five Feet Apart is an informative and touching story about cystic fibrosis disease and the struggle of people suffering from this illness. There is creativity in including Stella’s vlogging activity in social media for raising awareness about cystic fibrosis as a genetic disorder. The director did a good job in his melancholy yet hopeful treatment of the film. Richardson stands out in her acting and she effectively engages the viewers in sympathizing with the character of Stella. The final scene with her thought of Will is a very touching moment. The production establishes well the hospital setting. The rest of technical aspects such as sound, lights and music are all appropriate. The editing is likewise commendable for the smooth transition of scenes from hospital to dating venues. While similar themes have been dealt on in many other films, Five Feet Apart differs in the characters’ light treatment of their life-threatening illness.
No matter how dark and depressing the situation — choose life. This is the message of Five Feet Apart. Despite the reality of her life-threatening illness, Stella remains hopeful and enthusiastic about living life. Illness, marital problem of parents, and sudden death in the family may lead some people to depression but the film presents an optimistic character. This may serve as an inspiration especially for viewers in similar situation. The film puts to good use the presence of social media as a companion in Stella’s journey, and as information tool to raise public awareness about cystic fibrosis as a genetic disorder. The film is also a good reminder for sick people to be cooperative with their treatment and not to give their caregivers a hard time. Along with the main message of choosing life, the film is also about compassion, diligence, love, and sacrifice. — IBD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24YrEAGF32M
DIRECTOR: Justin Baldoni LEAD CAST: Haley Lu Richardson, Cole Sprouse, Moises Arias PRODUCER: Cathy Schulman, Justin Baldoni SCREENWRITER: Mikki Daughtry, Tobias Iaconis MUSIC: Brian Tyler, Breton Vivian CINEMATOGRAPHER: Frank G. DeMarco EDITOR: Angela M. Catanzaro PRODUCTION COMPANY: CBS Films, Welle Entertainment, Wayfarer Entertainment DISTRIBUTOR: CBS Films, Lionsgate COUNTRY: United States LANGUAGE: English RUNNING TIME: 116 minutes
