'Me Before You' lead actors Sam Caflin and Emilia Clarke attend the World Premiere of their movie based on Jojo Moyes' best-selling book at AMC Loews Lincoln Square 13 theater on May 23, 2016 in New York City. (Photo : Getty Images/Dimitrios Kambouris)
The film adaptation of Jojo Moyes' best-selling book which is supposed to be a tear-jerking romance between the handsome banker Will Traynor (Sam Caflin) and his caregiver Louisa "Lou" Clark (Emilia Clarke) has riled disability rights groups due to the film's perceived message of disabled people on euthanasia.
"Me Before You" narrates the relationship of two people who despite their differences will develop a loving relationship and will encourage you to live boldy, according to Variety magazine.
Will, who became paralyzed from the neck down after a motorbike accident, has decided to undergo euthanasia in Switzerland. Before the accident, he had enjoyed a successful career, a chance to see the world, experienced extreme sports like cliff diving and windsurfing and of course, being in a relationship with beautiful women.
On the other hand, the simple and naïve Lou had been busy working to support her family. She was working in a café at the castle owned by the Traynors, and very much contented of her life until the café closed. Lou, who cannot afford to be unemployed, took a job as a caregiver even without experience. She was hired by Will's mother who was hoping that through her bubbly personality she can dissuade him with his decision to go on with his plan.
In an interview with The New Paper, 31-year-old paraplegic Azlin Amran agrees that "Me Before You" sends a wrong message to the disabled community. She understands what Will have felt and fathoms that it is normal to feel grief. But Amran points out that the film has failed to include how human beings experience healing, hope and faith after grief or loss.
One of Singapore's para-equestrians, Gemma Foo, also empathizes with Will. However, she agrees that the movie has failed to show that there is more to life despite being disabled. Foo believes that no matter what hardship you are going through, there will always be a solution and ending your own life is not one of them. For her, it is all about finding the will to go on with your life.
Moreover, according to the Dr. Marissa Medjeral-Mills, Executive Director of the Disabled People's Association Singapore, casting is another issue of "Me Before You". She is dissatisfied that film producers did not cast actors with disabilities despite move and advocacies by the government and different organization to give the public a positive mindset on disabilities.
