Me Before You Dvd

Me Before You is a 2016 British romantic drama film directed by Thea Sharrock in her directorial debut and adapted by English author Jojo Moyes from her 2012 novel of the same name. The film stars Emilia Clarke, Sam Claflin, Janet McTeer, Charles Dance and Brendan Coyle.

Set in the United Kingdom, the film was shot in various historic locations across the countries, including Pembroke Castle in Wales and Chenies Manor House in Buckinghamshire, England. Released on 3 June 2016 in the United Kingdom and North America, the film received mixed reviews and grossed $208 million worldwide.

Plot

William “Will” Traynor is a successful banker and active man who is in a good relationship with his girlfriend Alicia. One morning while they are in bed, Will receives a call telling him to come into work. While walking to work, he is talking on his mobile phone and inadvertently walks in front of a speeding motorcycle. As a result of the accident, Will is paralyzed from the neck down and permanently bound to a motorized wheelchair.

Two years later: Louisa “Lou” Clark is a happy, outgoing woman who lives with and supports her working-class family. After losing her job at a local cafe, she is hired as a companion for Will Traynor. Lou has no experience, but Will’s mother believes her cheery personality will help lift his spirits. Will only spends time with his nurse Nathan, who knows that he will never regain use of his body due to the damage to his spinal cord. Nathan assists him with everything physical like movement, exercise, and clothing.

Cynical and depressed because he can no longer live an active life, Will initially reacts coldly to Lou’s upbeat demeanor and treats her with contempt. After two weeks, Will has a visit from his former best friend Rupert and Will’s now ex-girlfriend Alicia, who reveal that they are engaged. Will manages to smash all the photographs on his dresser in anger and indignation, which Lou tries to repair the next day, leading to a verbal altercation between the two. The next day, Will orders Lou to watch a foreign film with subtitles with him, and she has to accept it. The two begin to bond and eventually become close friends. Lou and Will continue to talk every day; she learns that he is cultured and worldly, having traveled extensively. In contrast, her life so far has been simple, without many interests or hobbies or travel away from home. Her long-term boyfriend, Patrick, is training to take part in a Viking triathlon in Norway, a hobby that he chooses over spending more time with her. Will urges Lou to broaden her horizons and tells her that it is her responsibility to live her life as fully as possible.

While Nathan takes care of Will during one of his occasional illnesses, Lou notices scars on Will’s wrists. Some time after, Lou overhears an argument between Will’s parents and learns that Will has given his parents six months before checking into Dignitas in Switzerland for assisted suicide. Will refuses to accept life with a disability that entails dependency, pain, and suffering without any hope for recovery of his old self. Lou takes it upon herself to change his mind by organizing various trips and adventures to show Will that life is worth living, despite his disability. Will gradually becomes more communicative and open to her plans. Lou, Will, and Nathan attend horse racing, a trip far from perfect. Nonetheless, Lou sways Will into attending a Mozart concert.

Will joins Lou’s family for dinner on her birthday, where Lou’s father reveals he lost his job in a leveraged buyout which happened to have been organized by an associate of Will. When Lou’s father is offered a managerial position at Stortfold Castle, owned by Will’s family, Lou realizes that Will is trying to help her obtain financial freedom from her family. Gradually, they develop strong feelings for one another, which makes Patrick jealous. This causes problems in Lou’s and Patrick’s seven-year long relationship, eventually leading to their break-up.

Will decides to attend Alicia’s wedding and asks Lou to accompany him. At the wedding, Lou and Will enjoy offending the strait-laced guests. Lou learns from the bride’s godmother that she considers Will to be Alicia’s “one that got away”.

During a luxurious trip to the island of Mauritius together, Will is undertaken by another bout with pneumonia. Helped by Nathan, Will informs Lou that he still intends to follow through with his assisted suicide. He wants her to live a full life instead of “half a life” with him. He says their time together has been special, but he cannot bear to live in a wheelchair. He asks her to accompany him to Switzerland to be with him through his last moments. Heartbroken, she informs Will’s parents upon arrival in London that she is quitting immediately and travels back to her home by bus. She does not speak to Will for the days that follow. However, at home, Lou’s father convinces her to go to Will. She discovers that he has already left for Switzerland, so she decides to go to Switzerland herself to be with Will in his final moments.

A few weeks after Will’s death, sitting in his favorite café in Paris, Lou reads the letter Will left for her. In it, he encourages her to seek out a specific perfume shop. He has left her enough money to follow her dreams and ends off the letter with “Keep Pushing” and “Just live.”

Cast

Emilia Clarke as Louisa “Lou” Clark
Sam Claflin as William “Will” Traynor
Janet McTeer as Camilla Traynor
Charles Dance as Steven Traynor
Brendan Coyle as Bernard Clark
Steve Peacocke as Nathan
Matthew Lewis as Patrick
Jenna Coleman as Katrina “Treena” Clark
Samantha Spiro as Josie Clark
Alan Breck as Grandad
Vanessa Kirby as Alicia
Joanna Lumley as Mary Rawlinson
Ben Lloyd-Hughes as Rupert Collins