Read Ashley K's review ofFive Feet Apart.
Stella Grant (Haley Lu Richardson) is every bit a seventeen-year-old… she’s attached to her laptop and loves her best friends. But unlike most teenagers, she spends much of her time living in a hospital as a cystic fibrosis patient. Her life is full of routines, boundaries and self-control – all of which is put to the test when she meets an impossibly charming fellow patient named Will Newman (Cole Sprouse). There’s an instant flirtation, though restrictions dictate that they must maintain a safe distance between them. As their connection intensifies, so does the temptation to throw the rules out the window and embrace that attraction. Further complicating matters is Will’s potentially dangerous rebellion against his ongoing medical treatment. Stella gradually inspires Will to live life to the fullest, but can she ultimately save the person she loves when even a single touch is off limits?
Five Feet Apart is in theaters on March 15th, 2019.
Haley Lu Richardson plays Stella, a teenager who suffers from cystic fibrosis. She lives in a hospital because the disease needs 24 hour care. She ends up meeting Will (Cole Sprouse) who also has “CF”. They develop a relationship but must stay 6 feet apart, people who have CF are a risk to each other as their bacteria can be deadly to one another. Unable to touch each other, Stella decides to take away one foot to be closer, thus keeping the distance of 5 feet apart.
Haley gives a wonderful performance as Stella - a strong but obsessive teenager who has suffered many hardships and just wants to live. Cole is great as Will - a slightly rebellious heartthrob who changes when he falls in love.
I knew nothing about cystic fibrosis going into this and I feel like they did a good job showing how young people are affected by this disease. I think it’s a great way to create awareness and explain how complex CF can be.
This movie is very emotional, I felt happy and devastated. There were a lot of funny moments and you can’t help but root for Stella and Will.
The ending is very intense - I actually had to compose myself during the credits because I couldn’t stop crying. It’s not that the ending was sad - just pulled on my heart strings and made me appreciate life. It’s a wonderful movie, definitely go see it. I also recommend you bring tissues!
Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Ashley K. (Contributing Editor) is a frequent traveler currently living in San Diego. She's a super nerd who enjoys all kinds of movies and doesn't always think the book was better. Click Here to check out Ashley K's Articles.