Cancer. One of nature's bastard creations. It's a disease that literally effects everyone. You either know someone with it, someone who's life has been taken by it or you'll eventually get it yourself. Because it's so ubiquitous it's always turning up in films too. It's an upsetting thing to see depicted onscreen because it's a horrible reminder of your own mortality. It's a huge part of Departures too but thankfully here we see that while it might end a life, having it doesn't mean you have to stop living.
Calvin is young man working with his father and brother in the airport. He's also a hypochondriac who's obsession with his health is stopping him from enjoying life. Skye is a young woman with terminal cancer who's written a list of things she wants to tick off before she dies. They bump into each other at a cancer support group and soon enough she has him roped in to help her on her quest and with her support Calvin begins to enjoy himself finally. Life is cruel though, so cruel.
I really liked this. It's a film you go into expecting it to be upsetting and, don't get me wrong, it is, but it's also light, breezy, hilarious in places and eventually quite life affirming. It's a rare occasion that lines like "I have cancer" and "But I'm dying" make you laugh but it happens here. Skye's situation is wrung for a couple of dark giggles courtesy of her self deprecation but her pain is never made light of. The film makes clear that her prognosis is grim but it's all carried off with such a light touch that despite the reality of the situation you'll never want to stop watching. Calvin's storyline isn't as foreboding but it's equally as upsetting in places. Seeing a young person crumbling in the face of despair instead of accepting life's rich pageant is always hard to take. Calvin's journey is a tough one, filled with mistakes of his own making but his plotline is as compelling as Skye's.
Most films about terminal illness aren't as funny as this. A diving board reveal is a full on belly laugh. Skye and Calvin's run in with Ken Jeong's accommodating cop provides plenty of entertainment and Skye herself rarely utters something that won't make you smile. It's a film that needs a bit of fun though because when it gets sad, it gets really sad. Thankfully unlike other similar films this doesn't revel in the minutiae of sickness. It never gets mawkish or manipulative. (ok, maybe it's a little manipulative but it's Arya Stark we are watching suffering!) Another thing it does that I appreciated about it was it doesn't feel the need to tie up every loose end. Life is messy, not everything can be fixed and the film is smart enough to realise that. Fixing the problems of every character wouldn't have rang true at all.
My only problem with this film was the early depiction of Skye. At the start of the film she's fierce hard to take. She's in manic pixie dream girl mode. A character who only exists to pull Calvin out of his slump. She's so full on that her friendship with him makes little sense. But as the film moves forward and her brave face mask slips she starts to make way more sense and she becomes a real character. Fine writing from Ireland's own Fergal Rock combined with Maisie William's excellent ability to create empathy for her character rids the film of this creaky old cliche and it's all the better for it. Asa Butterfield's Calvin is well rounded character too. Unlike many other teen movies there's a reason for his state of mind. It's not purely a plot device. As his story unfolds his interactions with his father, brother and the woman he fancies (Not Skye btw, refreshingly the film doesn't feel the need to crowbar in a romance between them) all become understandable. Having 2 likable and relatable leads will always put a film on the right track.
Watch this. It will make you laugh and it will probably make you cry. Whatever it does to you, you'll be glad you watched it because it's nice when a film makes you feel.
Available on google movies to rent or buy now. For some reason it has two names as well. Departures & Them Came You. Departures is a way better name. By far.
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