The recently-released movie Me Before You, based on a best-selling novel of the same title by Jojo Moyes, is not worth the money to see. Not because the acting is bad or the dialogue is subpar. Because it sends a message that’s all too common in Hollywood now: that it’s better to be dead than disabled. The story is of a young British girl, Louisa “Lou” Clark (Emilia Clarke) who is hired as a caregiver for Will Traynor (Sam Claflin), a former big shot, wealthy, adrenaline junky who was paralyzed in an accident. Though Lou has no experience as a caregiver she’s hired by Will’s mother because of her cheerful disposition because Will has made it clear that he has no desire to live now that he’s paralyzed from the neck down and his mother hopes Lou can help change his mind. As is typical of Hollywood, the two end up falling in love, but ***spoiler alert*** he decides to kill himself anyway because it’s a better option than living in a wheelchair, entirely dependent on others for even his basic needs.
Now, I’m sorry, in what world is there anything romantic about suicide? What is the entertainment value of someone being so miserable that they decide death is better than the life they have? The romanticism of suicide has always been a pet peeve of mine, but to make it the main plot of a movie takes the cake on Hollywood irritating me. But that’s only the start of the problems with this storyline. What kind of message is Hollywood sending through this film? “I’m sorry that you were born with a disability or you were in some kind of accident that left you disabled but your life is worth nothing since you can’t walk so you might as well off yourself.” What does that say to the teenage girls in wheelchairs who don’t Google the movie before seeing it, they just know that it’s a romance with someone in a wheelchair and maybe it could prove that they’re still lovable? What does it tell them to say, “Sure, someone might love you for the fact that you’re beautiful with a disability and that you have a lovely personality, but that doesn’t really matter because you’d be better off dead.”? This movie is quite literally promoting suicide.
On top of that, Will Traynor is a quadriplegic (paralysis of all four limbs). Quadriplegics are still completely capable of thought and, for the most part, speaking (it’s not unheard of for this to become more difficult after living with the condition for a while). Quadriplegics are capable of acting. So why was Sam Claflin, a completely able-bodied actor, cast in the role of a quadriplegic? Hollywood is notorious for casting able-bodied actors/actresses in disabled roles, even though it’s much harder for them to accurately portray the role because they have absolutely no idea what it’s like to live with a disability. Through this Hollywood sends the message that as a disabled person your voice doesn’t count and you should let others speak for you.
At the end of the day, while Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin are both good actors and I’m sure in another world this could be a great romance story, don’t waste your time and money to see such blatant ableism. By feeding money into this film you’re telling Hollywood that you agree with the messages they’re sending about disabled people. If you want to see ableism in practice just walk down the street. It’s all around and it’s not being addressed. Hollywood may only be part of the problem but it’s a part that can easily be addressed. Don’t go see Me Before You and let the media continue to spread this message.
