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Definitely hits close to home for those living with debilitating illness & their families.... Could be upsetting or helpful depending on the day. Might help those who don't "get it" to understand what it's like. My only criticism is that so many movies that focus on those with debilitating illnesses (Just watched "Me Before You" last night, same issue) come from wealthy families... Adding the financial struggle would be more realistic. It sucks. Oh, & they fail to talk about your intimate relationship with your UPS guy because you buy EVERYTHING on Amazon... Anyway, watch it. It's inspiring, empathetic, & heart warming :)
Reviewed in the United States on September 23, 2018
Verified Purchase
Two magnificent actors, Hilary Swank and Emmy Rossum, put in outstanding performances in this film.
Kate, an accomplished pianist, contracted ALS, a horrific debilitating disease which left her unable to feed herself, dress herself, attend to her very personal bodily needs, and even put her own makeup on which every woman loves to do. She needed a caretaker, and she hired Bec, the most unlikely candidate. Bec, a sloppy, unorganized young woman with little experience in and knowledge about ALS victims came into Kate's life. For some reason, Kate took a liking to her despite her slovenly appearance. Kate's husband disliked her from the start..
Eventually the two women became friends and soon their relationship bonded into a loving friendship. Bec became very protective of Kate. Kate then learned that her once beloved husband was involved with another woman which totally devastated her.
This is about unconditional love. And how Bec learned so much from the dying Kate and became a better person, and how Kate put her life, in the end, in the hands of her beloved Bec. In one scene, Bec is playing the piano, and Kate's husband puts Kate's hands over Bec's hands as she plays "Til The End of Time," which bespeaks their relationship. It's touching, and poignant.
Watch this film; it's worth your time. But have a box of tissue handy.
I cry my eyes out every time I watch this...Hilary Swank is positively superb in everything she does and she's especially exceptional in this movie and Emmy Rossum just blew me away big time!! I love the uniqueness of Kate and Bec's special bond and how it develops. At one point Kate tells Bec "I'll give you everything, just don't ever let me end up dying in a hospital with tubes in me against my will..." & I cheered & screamed like crazy!! (I think she said wires but you get it). *Here's why: My brother has been in a rehab hospital over 4 years now slowly dying in pieces on a ventilator because his wife has put the fear of God in him about death. He "says" he doesn't want to die but I think it's the result of what everybody else wants. He can't even move his little finger. He has no quality of life or dignity left. I had a living will done years ago and updated when he got sick making damn sure no one can ever do this to me with a DNR, (DO NOT RESUSCITATE), including no CPR. My own hubby died an unexpected tragic death very young, (he was a pilot & ATC). I never got to say goodbye to him and I feel like he's still alive out there with me here waiting for him to come home. I told our babies "Daddy's always watching over & protecting us". I hoped after all the torture my bro's wife put him through she'd call it a day for his sake and tell their girls the same and take him off that horrid machine but no go. Kate's family is just as selfish in the movie but I'm not going to spoil it for you. It gets pretty gut wrenching at the end and Bec just won't leave Kate's side no matter what. I loved Will too and the rest of this sensational cast and their challenging performances!! Emmy Rossum wrote and beautifully performs a very befitting song when the credits come on, "Falling Forward" followed by a super but very tear jerking song, (I'll get the name & artist in a revision). This line really gets me: "You can't see tears cried in the rain"... And *God Bless Lou Gehrig* ~> If anyone deserved to retire as #1 in the NY Yankees it's definitely him. 95% of ALS patients opt for no ventilators so everyone needs to see this movie and why. It's not pretty so at least it should be fast. *My heart goes out to all of you*
I love this movie so much. I'm in a similar, but not identical, position as was Hilary Swank's character. I do not suffer from Lou Gering's, but it's a steadily debilitating condition . I won't go into detail, but I will say that there are people who do not wish for extraordinary procedures or measures be taken to preserve their life. I'm one of those people. I just want to exit this life knowing I've done what I could to love people and to call it a successful life. Call it assisted suicide if you wish, but that's not how I think of it. It's a really tough decision for those who follow you and take care of you, but if they truly love you, they will honor your wishes.
If you've seen the trailer, you have a pretty good idea of the arc of this story. I expected a tear jerker and that's what I got. Hilary Swank is plumbing depths similar to the ones she dove into in her outstanding work in The Boxer. Based on her work here, I'm sure she must have really researched ALS and it shows. Several times I could barely understand her, which I'm sure is true to life, but it sometimes made it difficult for me to follow along. Emmy Rossum is also wonderful and even Josh Duhamel seems to play this with more depth than I've seen from him before. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who feels enriched by watching a story about being true to oneself; the faces of love; and navigating the hand life deals you