The Fault in Our Stars (2014)
Director: Josh Boone Starring: Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort Genre: Rom- Com, Drama
"I'm on a roller coaster that only goes up, my friend"
The current high-demand box office success is undoubtedly unique amongst other popular films about terminal illness. With echoes of 2009's My Sister's Keeper and 2012's Now is Good, this book adaptation shares the common denominator of cancer; but is filled with intelligence, romance and a degree of sarcastic humour simultaneously combined with compassion and most importantly - truth.
Based on the New York Times bestseller 'The Fault in Our Stars' by John Green, the film follows the love story of two patients: Hazel Grace Lancaster who suffers from "thyroid cancer [...] but with an impressive and long-settled satellite colony in [her] lungs" and Augustus Waters who is in remission from Osteosarcoma (bone cancer) having previously had his leg amputated. The two meet in a support group and immediately bond over their shared experience.
However, it is soon uncovered that these scientific labels are far from the main components of the the two well-rounded protagonists. You will find that their illness is in fact not the real villain - but time. Their short amount of time, the limits to their "little infinity" that you watch unfold provides the real sadness. The effortlessly touching story of friendship and love that ensues by no means uses cancer as exploitation but focuses on the fleeting nature of life.
One consistent element of the film is it's ability to remain charming and funny even despite the constant reminder that cancer is an everyday obstacle. Hazel (Woodley) is an instantly likable character, a cynical sixteen-year-old who is determined not to 'sugar coat' her situation and demands the truth from those around her. In contrast, Augustus (Elgort) is a free spirit, whose last wish is to be greatly remembered by everyone.
It is their typical awkward teenage interactions that constitutes the humour and prompts the viewer to remember they are young adults dealing with a large-scale problem on top of the difficulties of adolescence -the driving scene being one distinctive for it's comedic elements. The addition of Augustus' friend -and fellow cancer patient- Isaac during sentimental scenes between Hazel and Augustus (both of which involve Isaac destroying/hitting something frustratingly in the background) are exemplary of the subtle and intelligent humour throughout the film.
This most definitely is a film of poetic metaphors, and one that allows itself to be quoted again and again. From the inspirational words in fictional Peter Van Houten's book An Imperial Affliction that "pain demands to be felt" to Hazel's own distinctive monologue and judgments: "Funerals are not for the dead, they are for the living". A memorable moment is Augustus' colorful and symbolic declaration of love during their date in Amsterdam, referencing the literary background of the film and the irreplaceable words of John Green. Even Augustus' use of cigarettes which is quite explicitly a 'metaphor' (he places a cigarette in his mouth but never lights one) "You put the killing thing right between your teeth, but you do not give it the power to do it's killing" indicates that this is not a film solely about cancer but the virtues of it's victims.
However, it is soon uncovered that these scientific labels are far from the main components of the the two well-rounded protagonists. You will find that their illness is in fact not the real villain - but time. Their short amount of time, the limits to their "little infinity" that you watch unfold provides the real sadness. The effortlessly touching story of friendship and love that ensues by no means uses cancer as exploitation but focuses on the fleeting nature of life.
One consistent element of the film is it's ability to remain charming and funny even despite the constant reminder that cancer is an everyday obstacle. Hazel (Woodley) is an instantly likable character, a cynical sixteen-year-old who is determined not to 'sugar coat' her situation and demands the truth from those around her. In contrast, Augustus (Elgort) is a free spirit, whose last wish is to be greatly remembered by everyone.
It is their typical awkward teenage interactions that constitutes the humour and prompts the viewer to remember they are young adults dealing with a large-scale problem on top of the difficulties of adolescence -the driving scene being one distinctive for it's comedic elements. The addition of Augustus' friend -and fellow cancer patient- Isaac during sentimental scenes between Hazel and Augustus (both of which involve Isaac destroying/hitting something frustratingly in the background) are exemplary of the subtle and intelligent humour throughout the film.
This most definitely is a film of poetic metaphors, and one that allows itself to be quoted again and again. From the inspirational words in fictional Peter Van Houten's book An Imperial Affliction that "pain demands to be felt" to Hazel's own distinctive monologue and judgments: "Funerals are not for the dead, they are for the living". A memorable moment is Augustus' colorful and symbolic declaration of love during their date in Amsterdam, referencing the literary background of the film and the irreplaceable words of John Green. Even Augustus' use of cigarettes which is quite explicitly a 'metaphor' (he places a cigarette in his mouth but never lights one) "You put the killing thing right between your teeth, but you do not give it the power to do it's killing" indicates that this is not a film solely about cancer but the virtues of it's victims.
Even the most thick-skinned will be unfathomably touched by this honest, beautifully written script from an equally beautifully written book. A moving and heart-rendering love story above all else it will leave the audience thinking about how easy it is to take time for granted and all levels of your emotional Richter scale will undoubtedly be reached.
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