This movie may be about lungs, but it will tug at your heart

By: Bailey A.

Based on the novel by the same name, Feet Feet Apart revolves around the love story of two hospitalized teenagers who both have cystic fibrosis, a disease that involves the production of abnormally thick mucus leading to respiratory infection. Due to this fact, they must stay at least six feet apart at all times, which makes for a serious complication in their relationship. The movie offers not only an interesting, complex love story, but has the potential to provide the viewer with laughter, smiles, and quite a few tears. Directed by Justin Baldoni, the film brings light to a real and serious issue along with brilliant fictional aspects.

The main characters, Stella (Haley Lu Richardson) and Will (Cole Sprouse), have a chemistry that radiates off the screen right into the hearts of the audience. The love feels real, and so does the heartbreak. The side characters in the movie, including Poe (Moisés Arias) and Nurse Barb (Kimberly Hebert Gregory) offer up their own electric personalities and actually add to the story.

An interesting aspect of this movie is that is does not stray away from the real hardships of cystic fibrosis. Unlike some other movies between two ill star-crossed lovers, this movie doesn’t try to glorify or undermine the disease at hand. It talks about the many medical procedures that cystic fibrosis patients go through in their first years of life, shows the scars they have acquired, and doesn’t shy away from the tough daily treatments for CF, even the ones that are slightly gross and not-so appealing.

This movie gives the viewers a sense of all kinds of love. It provides a loving friendship between Poe and Stella, a romantic relationship between Stella and Will, and gives the viewer an inside look at the relationship between the nurses and the doctors, with the patients.

Five Feet Apart is a well written and directed film that is enjoyable for all audiences, especially those who love “chick-flicks”. This movie is one that can be enjoyed with family, friends, a date, or even alone. In all, Five Feet Apart is definitely worth the watch.