Photo: Alfonso Bresciani/CBS Films Adapted from a YA novel, Five Feet Apart stars Cole Sprouse and Haley Lu Richardson as teenagers who fall in love while undergoing treatment for cystic fibrosis in the same hospital. For those in the CF community, the film’s plot is controversial: Some are excited to see a movie that focuses on their disease, while others find the depiction inaccurate and even dangerous.
To get a sense of the varying discourse around the film, the Cut spoke to 11 people from the cystic fibrosis community about their reactions to the movie. Some related to its characters, while others had concerns about accuracy and representation. Ruby Steuart, 19, “I find it very unfair that I’m over here so healthy.” “When [Stella’s] sister passed away it took everyone by surprise and so she had a very hard time dealing with the survivor’s guilt that came along with that. I identified with that. I’ve watched so many of my friends with CF pass away and I find it very unfair that I’m over here so healthy — which I know I should be happy about — while I have so many friends that are dying.
Carly Lindmeier, 23, “Why can’t this be romantic?” “Why do we have to say, this isn’t a romantic disease, you know? I’ve been up in the middle of the night having coughing fits and stuff, and my boyfriend will roll over and pat my back for me and help me. And I’m like, that’s romantic.