‘Me Before You’, right or wrong?

Me Before You', right or wrong?

Ok, Hollywood centred rant coming up….

There is a new film around that has really rattled my cage and made me angry.

'Me Before You'.

This block-buster film is due out next month, release date in the UK 3rd June.

I have two major problems with it.

Firstly, the disabled male lead character is being played by a non-disabled actor. Just why? AREN'T THERE ANY DISABLED ACTORS IN THE WORLD? Why a non-disabled actor? It's not right. Secondly, and in my opinion, more importantly, it seems to promote the idea that disabled people are better off dead. Just NO. As a severely disabled woman I don't believe this is true. Being disabled is NOT a death sentence, it's perfectly possible, to live a good and productive life and be disabled at the same time.

So. Let's start by looking at the issue of non-disabled actors playing roles depicting disabled characters on screen, TV or on stage. What is the issue with casting one of the amazing disabled performers there are in these roles? Are film directors and TV producers trying to say there aren't any or that they aren't good enough? If that's the case, they're wrong. There are plenty of amazingly talented disabled performers just waiting for the chance to shine. Or could it be that these same directors and producers believe that using real disabled people might make the viewing public uncomfortable? If that's the case, why should it? Disabled people are part of every-day society in real-life, why not in the fictitious worlds we all pay to join when we watch a film? We are seeing more and more racially appropriate actors playing diverse ethnic characters, why not let us have a fully representative cast when making something that includes a disabled person in the plot, especially when that character is one of the leads.

Then there is the subject matter of the film. Implying that disability is a tragedy and that disabled people should consider killing themselves rather than continuing to be a burden on their families and on society is so wrong. Disabled people have as much right to live their lives to the full as everyone else. Where do we draw the line? How are we supposed to decide who has a right to life and who doesn't. Are we saying that some disabilities are worse than others? Ranking impairment by effect on the individual disabled person or on society as a whole. Who gets to make that decision. Who gets to play judge and jury? Does anyone have that right? If we legalise euthanasia, in my opinion, we'll be starting down a slippery slope. Some disabled people may feel they have no option but to take their own lives because of the 'burden' they consider themselves to be on their families or even those who are actually pressurised into it by their families. Others may feel they just can't go on. Many disabled people experience considerable pain and discomfort due to their impairments and that is the reason they cite for feeling they would be better off dead. Rather than looking at ways to put an end to that suffering through death, why can't we put more money, time and effort into improving the provision of palliative care. Decent pain relief and more effective treatments should be the way to go, not endless discussions on our right to life at all.

Then there is the issue of how disability affects both the individual themselves and the people in the wider community are impacted by having disabled people in their lives. If I hadn't developed MS at 24 there are so many people I would never have met, so many friends I would never have made, so many things I would never have done, I would never have started writing - my writing has happened exclusively because I am disabled. I would never have done my Post Grad-Law qualification, I would have stopped after my first degree and stayed in public libraries for my entire career. I would never have worked for the organisations and employers that have employed me. I would have missed so much. Contrary to popular opinion, disability has not ruined my life, it has made it. Without my MS I would be a very different person doing very different things.

'Me Before You' is one film I wish had never been made at all and I, for one, will not be rushing to the cinema to see it. In my opinion the actors are not right and the subject matter is controversial and wrong. Disability is not entertainment. It's real life and should be treated as such