“Human touch. Our first form of communication. Safety, security, comfort, all in the gentle caress of a finger. Or the brush of lips on a soft cheek. It connects us when we’re happy, bolsters us in times of fear, excites us in times of passion and love. We need that touch from the one we love, almost as much as we need air to breathe. But I never understood the importance of touch. His touch. Until I couldn’t have it.”
In Five Feet Apart, Stella Grant (Haley Lu Richardson) is a seventeen year old girl who has CF (Cystic Fibrosis), a disease that causes damage to the lungs and digestive system. Stella can experience touch, but not by Will Newman (Cole Sprouse), a man who also has Cystic Fibrosis. On top of that, he also has Burkholderia Cepacia.
When Will and Stella first meet they don’t get along. Stella is obsessive-compulsive and hopeful, while Will is the exact opposite, being a rule breaker who is convinced they are “breathing borrowed air”.
Will is part of a drug trial for an antibiotic-resistant infection and they make a deal: Stella helps him with his regime and in return, Will gets to draw her. Because of their diseases and the risk of cross infection, they have to stay six feet apart from each other. With everything that CF took from them, they use a five feet pool cue to keep the distance between them to “steal one foot back,” breaking the rules a little bit.
I thought this movie was beautiful all around. It captures the way love can destroy and simultaneously rebuild your whole life. If you’re a fan of romance this will be the perfect movie for you! I will warn you though, it can be a tough watch. I teared up at this movie – and I’m not an easy crier.
