MovieChat Forums > Me Before You (2016) Discussion > As A Physically Disabled Adult

As A Physically Disabled Adult

posted 8 years ago by cadosager
93 replies | jump to latest

Hey there. I'm a 19 year old man who's been confined to a wheelchair since I was three years old because of a genetic disease. In my experience, I've had dark moments where I debated to myself whether my life was worth living. As I get older, I'll slowly lose more and more usage of my body. Living with that shadow looming over you is difficult. However, at the end of all my contemplations, it's been clear that life is worth living. I've made incredible friends, achieved and am maintaining a 3.9 GPA in college, travelled across the country and have even fallen in love. Life is worth living. We live in a world of opportunities. What message does this film send to impressionable disabled youth or, for that matter, anyone living with disabilities grappling with their existence? I think this film is fairly insensitive. I hope its message was simply rooted in ignorance.

[–] MrMcMurphy 8 years ago

The bottom line is that my friend proved you 100% right, at least with regard to the movie's potential to influence.

My friend has been very sick, confined to a bed for many years. They are now physically and mentally handicaped. This movie helped them to justify going Traynor's route. They haven't, but it sure made them feel better about it.

Movies have a very real impact. My friend is not impressionable by any means, but this movie provided a good perspective on the other side (sometimes the "selfish" people are the ones expecting others to live, regardless of their circumstances).

I think it's debatable whether the message was "good" or "bad." Traynor, the "can't-be-stuck-in-a-chair" playboy character, was clearly I big part of the impetus for the decision. It wasn't just any handicapped guy. If I had any argument, it was with his conclusion. I know my friend would kill just to have their brain back.