Because every slice of life is a miracle, no matter what it tastes like.
The movie is an easy target for criticism. Or it could be. It could be called “low-budget”, dull, unimpressive, sad without a purpose. But the non-critical view of it, my view, is that it’s a film worth watching. And it’s not only because of Kristen Stewart’s remarkable performance. I’ve seen other movies with her and by now I’m no longer surprised to see her ability of creating and expressing rather difficult characters. I remember being told more than once that one of the most difficult things for an actor is to play a certain degree of invalidity, while he or she is in perfect shape. I guess that applies to sickness of any kind. So, once more, thumbs up for Kristen. She does great.
It’s all about how small stories can and often do hold big dramas. In this case, it’s about a young girl suffering from a disease that disables her almost completely in terms of normal physical abilities. Nonetheless, she manages to rise above them not by some spectacular gesture or dramatic sacrifice, but by simply taking things as they are and living life as it’s offered to her. She refuses to be “a freak” not because of some incredible moral strength, but because the alternative just isn’t an option. It’s a bit like the anti-Hollywood story of “A Walk to Remember”. It’s the same story of love for a terminally-ill person, but without the idealism and magical transfiguration that the latter holds. There’s nothing beautiful or romantic about being sick, dying, struggling to stay alive. But again, even as you live through such an ordeal, miracles do happen, and falling in love is one of them. And while love won’t cure you or stop the progress of the illness, it will make your life worth living… no matter whether it is for a couple of months or tens of years. After all, life is hard, sometimes painful, every now and then joyful, but it’s still a gift we’re only left to enjoy or to waste. There’s no road in between so I’m thinking, since we’ve enrolled in this game, let’s play it to the end. And my bet would go on enjoying it.
The movie is an easy target for criticism. Or it could be. It could be called “low-budget”, dull, unimpressive, sad without a purpose. But the non-critical view of it, my view, is that it’s a film worth watching. And it’s not only because of Kristen Stewart’s remarkable performance. I’ve seen other movies with her and by now I’m no longer surprised to see her ability of creating and expressing rather difficult characters. I remember being told more than once that one of the most difficult things for an actor is to play a certain degree of invalidity, while he or she is in perfect shape. I guess that applies to sickness of any kind. So, once more, thumbs up for Kristen. She does great.
It’s all about how small stories can and often do hold big dramas. In this case, it’s about a young girl suffering from a disease that disables her almost completely in terms of normal physical abilities. Nonetheless, she manages to rise above them not by some spectacular gesture or dramatic sacrifice, but by simply taking things as they are and living life as it’s offered to her. She refuses to be “a freak” not because of some incredible moral strength, but because the alternative just isn’t an option. It’s a bit like the anti-Hollywood story of “A Walk to Remember”. It’s the same story of love for a terminally-ill person, but without the idealism and magical transfiguration that the latter holds. There’s nothing beautiful or romantic about being sick, dying, struggling to stay alive. But again, even as you live through such an ordeal, miracles do happen, and falling in love is one of them. And while love won’t cure you or stop the progress of the illness, it will make your life worth living… no matter whether it is for a couple of months or tens of years. After all, life is hard, sometimes painful, every now and then joyful, but it’s still a gift we’re only left to enjoy or to waste. There’s no road in between so I’m thinking, since we’ve enrolled in this game, let’s play it to the end. And my bet would go on enjoying it.
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