DETROIT (WWJ) - "Five Feet Apart" is a touching love story between two teenagers. It could be just another story about young love, but it's far from it. This particular love story focuses on two cystic fibrosis (CF) patients who meet in a hospital, where they both live.
Seventeen-year-old Stella is a self-described control freak. She has everything in her life mapped out to a "T." She's so controlling, in fact, that it freaks her out when she meets Will, another CF patient, and she sees how he lives his life on the edge. Whereas Stella keeps track of just about her every move -- especially when she takes her medications -- Will is just the opposite. He occupies his time sketching drawings in his room and relies on hospital staff to remind him to take his medicine. His motto: it's just life and it's going to be over soon enough.
As CF patients, Will and Stella aren't allowed to be near one another. In fact, they're supposed to stay at least six feet apart. In this particular case, that's to ensure that Will, who carries the bacteria strain Burkholderia cepacia, or B. cepacia for short, doesn't transmit the dangerous bacteria to Stella. Staying at least six feet apart means they aren't even allowed to touch each other. But, as you can imagine, that gets complicated when the two start falling for one another. As Stella points out early in the movie, touch is our first form of communication, starting with when we are born. And, it's something that most people take for granted, but you really don't know how important touch is until you can't touch the ones you love. That's another point the movie makes clear.
"Five Feet Apart" is a beautifully-told love story. Not only is it a love story about two young people, it's also about the importance of family and friendship. While watching this movie, I also learned something new. The two daughters of my co-worker, Laura Bonnell, have CF, and although she's talked about it, I really had no idea the struggles they go through and the challenges they face – but I certainly do now. My recommendation is to carve some time out of your weekend to see this movie, and take your friends and family along with you. And make sure you take plenty of tissue! Or grab some napkins from the concession stand before going in! Because just when I thought I was going to make it all the way through the movie without shedding a tear, they started falling and wouldn't stop!
On a side note, you might be asking, why is the movie titled "Five Feet Apart" when Will and Stella have to stay six feet apart? Well, for the answer, you'll have to see the movie! And that's where I'll see you: at the movies!
"Five Feet Apart" is rated PG-13. Haley Lu Richardson stars as Stella Grant and Cole Sprouse stars as Will Newman.
Be sure to tune in to WWJ Newsradio 950 every Friday for my weekly look at the movies with Midday Anchor Jackie Paige.
Follow Terri on Twitter @TerriJLee
Member:
Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA)
Detroit Film Critics Society (DFCS)
African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA)
SAG-AFTRA
