‘Me Before You’ Is Drawing Criticism for Its Representation of Disability

May 27, 2016

(Mic) – (Editor’s note: Spoilers for the plot of Me Before You below). Though the film has not been released yet, Me Before You is already drawing criticism from disability activists for its portrayal of one of the films leads, Will Traynor (Sam Clafin). In the film — based off the novel by Jojo Moyes of the same name — Will is paralyzed after an accident before he falls in love with his caregiver, Louisa Clarke (Emilia Clarke). It isn’t the romance between the two leads that have drawn the ire of activists. Rather, it’s the film (and novel’s) narrative twist in the final act, in which Will decides to end his life at an assisted suicide facility, despite falling in love with Louisa.