Why 'Me Before You' is hypocritical to people with disabilities
I like to think of myself as a hopeless romantic.
I've been known to daydream every now and then of the famous scene between Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant in "Notting Hill."
But instead of William Thacker standing in front of a girl, asking him to love her, it's me listening to the romantic request.
It's on-screen romances like this that inspire moviegoers and bleeding hearts alike, but there's a new film that is offering the complete opposite message for one audience.
The film, "Me Before You," is hitting theaters on June 3, and many in the disability community are protesting the movie and its message.
Adapted from the book of the same name, "Me Before You" tells the story of Will Traynor, a thrill seeker who becomes a quadriplegic after an accident. After his accident, Traynor then falls in love with his caretaker, Louisa.
And, unfortunately, that's where the romance ends.
Before reading any further here's your SPOILER ALERT warning. I'll be revealing the movie's plot twist below.
While Louisa and Will fall in love, Will ultimately decides to end his own life instead of living and having a relationship with Louisa.
I'll be the first to admit that when the film came out, I was excited to see the movie. Having a romance with a main character as a person with a disability is something you don't see on the big screen too often.
But I recently found out that Will kills himself because he doesn't believe his life in a wheelchair is not worth living. And that completely changed my opinion.
The film uses the hashtag #LiveBoldly in their promotional material and that is even the mantra Will shares with Louisa. But apparently if you're a person with a disability, you're not able to lead a fulfilling life.
As a person with a disability, I am completely disappointed in this film. While this film is touting itself as a romance, for people who use wheelchairs or have any physical disability, it is the total opposite.
The message it's sending is completely hypocritical by saying people should live boldly, but quadriplegics can't lead lives worth living.
Portrayals like this have been all too common on both film and television and that needs to change. We are more than just victims and faceless characters and deserve to have more accurate representation in Hollywood.
Able-bodied people have numerous love stories to hope and dream on, but what about those of us who are disabled and hope to live happily ever after like those we watch in the movies? What message is it sending if the best character we can identify with decides it's better to die than be a burden for someone else?
If you're wondering, I will not be going to see this movie and I urge my friends and all those reading this to do the same. This is not a story that should be supported.
For now, me and other quadriplegics will have to wait for that romantic story that instills hope and love instead of regret and despair.
Until then, I will go back to those Rom Coms that I've seen countless times. And I will continue to hope, continue to dream and continue to live boldly.
Because we only live one life, and it's our duty to live it to the fullest.