''Me Before You'' is a 2016

romantic drama film Romance films or movies involve romantic love stories recorded in visual media for broadcast in theatres or on television that focus on passion (emotion), passion, emotion, and the affectionate romantic involvement of the main characters. Typica ...

directed by

Thea Sharrock Thea Sharrock (born 1976) is an English theatre and film director. In 2001, when at age 24 she became artistic director of London's Southwark Playhouse, she was the youngest artistic director in British theatre. Early life and education Sharroc ...

in her

directorial debut This is a list of film directorial debuts in chronological order. The films and dates referred to are a director's first commercial cinematic release. Many film makers have directed works which were not commercially released, for example early work ...

and

adapted In biology, adaptation has three related meanings. Firstly, it is the dynamic evolutionary process of natural selection that fits organisms to their environment, enhancing their evolutionary fitness. Secondly, it is a state reached by the po ...

by author

Jojo Moyes Pauline Sara Jo Moyes (born 4 August 1969), known professionally as Jojo Moyes, is an English journalist and, since 2002, an award-winning romance novelist, #1 New York Times best selling author and screenwriter. She is one of only a few author ...

from her 2012 novel of the same name. The film stars

Emilia Clarke Emilia Isobel Euphemia Rose Clarke (born 23 October 1986) is an English actress. She is best known for her portrayal as Daenerys Targaryen in '' Game of Thrones''. She has received various accolades, including an Empire Award, a Saturn Award, ...

Sam Claflin Samuel George Claflin (born 27 June 1986) is an English actor. After graduating from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in 2009, he began his acting career on television and had his first film role as Philip Swift in '' Pirates of t ...

Janet McTeer Janet McTeer (born 5 August 1961"Ms Janet McTeer, OBE"
. ''Derbrett's P ...

Charles Dance Walter Charles Dance (born 10 October 1946) is an English actor. He is known for playing strict, authoritarian characters and villains. His most notable film roles include Sardo Numspa in ''The Golden Child'' (1986), Dr. Jonathan Clemens in ''A ...

, and

Brendan Coyle David "Brendan" Coyle (born 2 December 1962) is an English-Irish actor. He won the Olivier Award for Best Performance in a Supporting Role for ''The Weir'' in 1999. He also played Nicholas Higgins in the miniseries '' North & South'', Robert T ...

. The film was shot in various historic locations across the UK, including

Pembroke Castle Pembroke Castle ( cy, Castell Penfro) is a medieval castle in the centre of Pembroke, Pembrokeshire in Wales. The castle was the original family seat of the Earldom of Pembroke. A Grade I listed building since 1951, it underwent major restoratio ...

in Wales and

Chenies Manor House Chenies Manor House in the parish of Chenies in Buckinghamshire, England, is a Tudor architecture, Tudor Grade I listed building once known as Chenies Palace, although it was never a royal seat nor the seat of a bishop. It was Feudal land tenur ...

Buckinghamshire Buckinghamshire (), abbreviated Bucks, is a ceremonial county in South East England that borders Greater London to the south-east, Berkshire to the south, Oxfordshire to the west, Northamptonshire to the north, Bedfordshire to the north-ea ...

, England. Released on 3 June 2016 in the United Kingdom and North America, the film received mixed reviews and grossed $208 million worldwide.

Plot

William "Will" Traynor was a once successful banker and active sportsman. However, one rainy day on his way to work, his life changed when he was hit by a motorcycle. Years later, Louisa "Lou" Clark is hired as carer for Will, now

tetraplegic Tetraplegia, also known as quadriplegia, is defined as the dysfunction or loss of motor and/or sensory function in the cervical area of the spinal cord. A loss of motor function can present as either weakness or paralysis leading to partial or ...

as a result of the accident. Will's mother hopes Lou's bubbly personality will lift Will's depressed and cynical spirits. Will is initially cold towards Lou. Will's ex-girlfriend Alicia visits and reveals that she is to marry Will's former best friend Rupert. Lou perseveres with Will and, as the two grow close, she learns he is cultured and worldly, in contrast to her simple life spent with her parents or boyfriend Patrick. Overhearing an argument between Will's parents, Lou learns that Will has conceded six months to them before he will go to Dignitas in Switzerland for

assisted suicide Assisted suicide is suicide undertaken with the aid of another person. The term usually refers to physician-assisted suicide (PAS), which is suicide that is assisted by a physician or other healthcare provider. Once it is determined that the p ...

, as he is unable to accept a disabled life. Lou takes it upon herself to change his mind by organising trips and adventures to show him that life is still worth living. Patrick's jealousy grows until he and Lou split up. Will asks Lou to accompany him to Alicia's wedding. They start to fall in love. During a luxurious trip to

Mauritius Mauritius ( ; french: Maurice, link=no ; mfe, label=Mauritian Creole, Moris ), officially the Republic of Mauritius, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean about off the southeast coast of the African continent, east of Madagascar. It incl ...

, Will tells Lou he still intends to take assisted suicide, saying he wants her to live a full life instead of half a life with him. Heartbroken, Lou quits as Will's caregiver and refuses contact with him. Lou's father convinces her to visit Will, but she finds out he has already left for Switzerland. She follows him there to be with him in his final moments. Some weeks after Will's death, sitting in his favourite café in Paris, Lou reads a letter he left for her. In it, he says he has left her enough money to follow her dreams and encourages her to live abundantly.

Cast

as Louisa "Lou" Clark *

as William "Will" Traynor *

Janet McTeer Janet McTeer (born 5 August 1961"Ms Janet McTeer, OBE"
. ''Derbrett's P ...

as Camilla Traynor *

as Steven Traynor *

as Bernard Clark *

Steve Peacocke Stephen Peacocke (born 30 October 1981) is an Australian actor. Peacocke appeared in various theatre productions, before playing minor roles in television dramas and films, including ''Suburban Mayhem'' and '' All Saints''. From 2011 until 2016 ...

as Nathan * Matthew Lewis as Patrick *

Jenna Coleman Jenna-Louise Coleman (born 27 April 1986), known professionally as Jenna Coleman, is an English actress. She is known for her roles as Jasmine Thomas in the soap opera ''Emmerdale'', Clara Oswald in the science-fiction series ''Doctor Who'', Qu ...

as Katrina "Treena" Clark *

Samantha Spiro Samantha Spiro (born 20 June 1968) is an English actress and singer. She is best known for portraying Barbara Windsor in the stage play ''Cleo, Camping, Emmanuelle and Dick'' and the television films ''Cor, Blimey!'' and ''Babs'', DI Vivien Frie ...

as Josie Clark *

Alan breck Alan Breck Stewart (Gaelic: ''Ailean Breac Stiùbhart''; c. 1711 – c. 1791) was a Scottish soldier and Jacobite. He was also a central figure in a murder case that inspired novels by Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson. Life and the Ap ...

as Grandad *

Vanessa Kirby Vanessa Nuala Kirby (born 18 April 1988) is an English actress. She has received several accolades, including a BAFTA TV Award, in addition to nominations for an Academy Award and a Primetime Emmy Award. Born in London to urologist Roger Ki ...

as Alicia Dawares *

Joanna Lumley Dame Joanna Lamond Lumley (born 1 May 1946) is an English actress, presenter, former model, author, television producer, and activist. She has won two BAFTA TV Awards for her role as Patsy Stone in the BBC sitcom ''Absolutely Fabulous'' (1992 ...

as Mary Rawlinson *

Ben Lloyd-Hughes Benedict Lloyd-Hughes (born 14 April 1988) is a British actor. He is known for portraying Josh Stock in the British series '' Skins'' (2007) and for his role as Will in the film '' Divergent'' (2014). He plays Tsar Alexander in the 2016 BBC tel ...

as Rupert Collins *

Diane Morgan Diane Morgan (born 5 October 1975) is an English actress, comedian, television presenter, and writer. She is best known for playing Philomena Cunk on Charlie Brooker's ''Weekly Wipe'' and in other mockumentaries, as Liz in the BBC Two sitcom '' ...

as Sharon * Chris Wilson as Major Timothy Dawares

Production

Development

On 2 April 2014, it was announced

would direct the film. Before casting

knew she wanted to audtion for this role as she said "That's just kind of an interesting concoction I hadn't read before". On 2 September 2014,

and

were cast in the film.

Stephen Peacocke Stephen Peacocke (born 30 October 1981) is an Australian actor. Peacocke appeared in various theatre productions, before playing minor roles in television dramas and films, including ''Suburban Mayhem'' and '' All Saints''. From 2011 until 2016 ...

was cast on 24 March 2015, with

and

cast on 2 April 2015. On 9 April 2015,

Janet McTeer Janet McTeer (born 5 August 1961"Ms Janet McTeer, OBE"
. ''Derbrett's P ...

joined the cast;

, Matthew Lewis,

and

joined the cast the next day.

thoughts after filming were "This was probably the most physically challenging thing that I’ve ever done,”

Filming

Principal photography Principal photography is the phase of producing a film or television show in which the bulk of shooting takes place, as distinct from the phases of pre-production and post-production. Personnel Besides the main film personnel, such as actor ...

began in April 2015 and ended on 26 June 2015. The film was shot in various locations in the United Kingdom, including

in Pembroke, Wales (the Traynors' estate);

Wytham Abbey Wytham Abbey is a privately-owned Grade I listed historic manor house situated in the village of Wytham, 3 miles (5 km) northwest of the centre of Oxford, England, near the River Thames. Described by ''The Times'' in 1991 as "one of the lovelies ...

Oxfordshire Oxfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the north west of South East England. It is a mainly rural county, with its largest settlement being the city of Oxford. The county is a centre of research and development, primarily ...

, England (the Traynors' home within the castle walls);

Sandown Park Sandown Park is a horse racing course and leisure venue in Esher, Surrey, England, located in the outer suburbs of London. It hosts 5 Grade One National Hunt races and one Group 1 flat race, the Eclipse Stakes. It regularly has horse racing ...

Esher Esher ( ) is a town in Surrey, England, to the east of the River Mole. Esher is an outlying suburb of London near the London-Surrey Border, and with Esher Commons at its southern end, the town marks one limit of the Greater London Built-Up Ar ...

Surrey Surrey () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South East England, bordering Greater London to the south west. Surrey has a large rural area, and several significant urban areas which form part of the Greater London Built-up Area. ...

, England (horse race and airport check-in scenes);

Harrow, London Harrow () is a large town in Greater London, England, and serves as the principal settlement of the London Borough of Harrow. Lying about north-west of Charing Cross and south of Watford, the entire town including its localities had a popul ...

(Lou's family home); and

Chenies Chenies is a village and civil parish in south-east Buckinghamshire, England. It is on the border with Hertfordshire, east of Amersham and north of Chorleywood. History Until the 13th century, the village name was Isenhampstead. There were two ...

, England (wedding scenes), while

Mallorca Mallorca, or Majorca, is the largest island in the Balearic Islands, which are part of Spain and located in the Mediterranean. The capital of the island, Palma, is also the capital of the autonomous community of the Balearic Islands. The Bal ...

, Spain, stands in for Mauritius.

Costume

Jill Taylor, the costume designer, thought Lou would have more of a 'quirky' wardrobe based of the book "she has these ‘leprechaun’ shoes, so we had to find some quirky shoes. By accident, we were in a shop and found these amazing shoes by Irregular Choice, and I just thought, ‘Oh, my God, that’s Lou!’ They suddenly became the basis of her wardrobe of shoes.”. will's charater clothing was more based on his before accident life as he wore luxurious suits.

Music

Release

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

Reception

Box office

''Me Before You'' grossed $56.2 million in North America and over $152 million in other territories for a total of $208.3 million, against a budget of $20 million. In North America, ''Me Before You'' opened on 3 June 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

Rotten Tomatoes Rotten Tomatoes is an American review-aggregation website for film and television. The company was launched in August 1998 by three undergraduate students at the University of California, Berkeley: Senh Duong, Patrick Y. Lee, and Stephen Wang ...

, the film has an approval rating of 54% based on reviews from 180 critics, and an average rating of 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 Metacritic is a website that review aggregator, aggregates reviews of films, TV shows, music albums, video games and formerly, books. For each product, the scores from each review are averaged (a weighted arithmetic mean, weighted average). M ...

the film has a score of 51 out of 100 based on 36 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". Audiences polled by

CinemaScore CinemaScore is a market research firm based in Las Vegas. It surveys film audiences to rate their viewing experiences with letter grades, reports the results, and forecasts box office receipts based on the data. Background Ed Mintz founded Ci ...

gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale. Chris Nashawaty of ''

Entertainment Weekly ''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, and popular cul ...

'' gave it a grade of B+ and wrote: "It may not quite rise to the level of a classic three-hankie tearjerker, but it's proof that sometimes one or two hankies is more than enough to get the job done."

Accolades

Controversy and protests

The film sparked criticism from many in the

disability rights movement The disability rights movement is a global new social movements, social movement that seeks to secure equal opportunity, equal opportunities and equality before the law, equal rights for all people with disability, disabilities. It is made u ...

, who perceive an underlying message that people with disabilities are a burden on their families and carers, 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". Others found the film exploitative of the disability community by stirring the emotions of viewers without actually aiding disabled people by accurate representation or employment in acting roles, while pointing out the casting of non-disabled actors as disabled characters. The #MeBeforeEuthanasia backlash was led by celebrities with disabilities including

Liz Carr Liz Carr is an English actress, comedian, broadcaster and international disability rights activist. Early life and education Carr was born 21 April 1972 in Port Sunlight and grew up in Bebington, Merseyside. She attended Upton Hall School FCJ i ...

, Penny Pepper, Mik Scarlet, and

Cherylee Houston Cherylee Martina Houston (born 20 August 1974) is a British actress. She grew up in Morecambe, Lancashire, in the United Kingdom. She is currently playing Izzy Armstrong in '' Coronation Street'', a role she has portrayed since April 2010. Sh ...

in the United Kingdom, and

Dominick Evans Dom Ławniczak Evans is a Polish-Irish-American filmmaker, streamer, public speaker, and social activist who focuses on LGBT rights and disability rights. Early life Evans was born in Toledo, Ohio to a Polish-American father, David Ławniczak ( ...

and Emily Ladau in the United States, as well as activists from Not Dead Yet in both countries. Protests in the United States occurred in cities including Los Angeles, New York City, Boston, Hartford, Denver, Atlanta, Chicago, Baltimore and Philadelphia. There were also protests in Australia. In response to the backlash, author Jojo Moyes said the story was inspired by her own family where relatives required 24-hour care, as well as a real-life news story about a quadriplegic man who convinced his parents to take him to a centre for assisted suicide. About Traynor's decision she said: "The fact is, in the film as in the book, nobody else agrees with what he decides to do. This is not by any means sending out a message. It's just about one character – it's nothing more than that."

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Me Before You 2016 films 2016 directorial debut films 2016 romantic drama films American romantic drama films British romantic drama films Films about euthanasia Films about paraplegics or quadriplegics Films based on British novels Films based on romance novels Film controversies Films produced by Karen Rosenfelt Films scored by Craig Armstrong (composer) Films set in England Films set in London Films set in Mauritius Films set in Paris Films set in Switzerland Films shot in Buckinghamshire Films shot in London Films shot in Mallorca Films shot in Oxfordshire Films shot in Pembrokeshire Films shot in Surrey Films with screenplays by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films New Line Cinema films 2010s English-language films 2010s American films 2010s British films Films about disability

Plot

Cast

Production

Development

Filming

Costume

Music

Release

Reception

Box office

Critical response

Accolades

Controversy and protests

See also

References

External links