I know I’ve been rambling about Bollywood films for a while now—I mean, it’s practically in my DNA at this point—but sometimes I like to switch things up (only sometimes). And when I do, it’s usually something like Five Feet Apart, the kind of movie you can binge-watch every night with a pint of ice cream and an industrial-sized box of tissues. Seriously, it hits you right in the feels, kind of like Titanic level emotional devastation. But before I start sobbing all over my keyboard, let’s dive into the film’s opening scene.
For some reason, it feels very intimate and incredibly soft—right from the very first frame. The closeups of Stella (Haley Lu Richardson) are so good; they make you feel like you are right there with her, confined in the hospital. You can really feel the weight of her daily routine and the isolation that comes with her illness. The tight framing seems to give this feeling of closeness; ironic, right? Especially since it is precisely that proximity in the flesh that the characters cannot have.
One can clearly see that this is where the color palette really plays a huge role in telling the story. The hospital seems less cold and clinical thanks to those pastel colors, soft blues, and warm tones. In a way, it's as if the film wraps you in a cozy blanket in such a way that you already know it would only take some time before someone yanks that blanket away. These warm colors display all the emotions locked in beneath the surface—hope, fragile moments, and a ton of unsaid feelings.
As for the camera angles, they make use of mixed styles. At the beginning, there are mostly POV shots that give you a peek into Stella's life since she is filming those vlogs and trying to keep a grip on her illness. Then there are all those wide shots of the hospital corridors making her world so isolated and minuscule. The directors have really perfected the techniques with camera movements to give the feeling of loneliness but still keep you emotionally attached to Stella.
Let's talk about lighting! It's all natural, soft, and pretty understated. No dramatic shadows and harsh lights (sigh, Rockstar fans!). This subtlety is truly perfect for the movie, which is a mix of hope and sadness. The side light streaming in through the windows of the hospital underscores how delicately Stella and other patients are faced with their situation. The lighting captures the stillness on the surface but leaves you in a sense feeling that tension under it—the minute you glance through the characters' rather fragile situations, you will hardly feel overpowered. It reflects that, shining the light upon the delicate situations of the characters without seeming oppressive.
Now, the mise en scène. Well, hospitals are not exactly the kind of places that burst with personality, but in Five Feet Apart, small details—the vlogs, the medical equipment, and the strict routines—add to the character of the space. It’s a play of contrasts: a place meant for healing, filled with unspoken emotions and the tension of human connections that just can't happen.
Then there's Will, played by Cole Sprouse, the rebellious hero, who shows up with that kind of brooding charm. Well, he's very much yin to Stella's yang, and thus comes with this injection of energy of "I don't follow the rules." I'm not saying too much more about it, though; thinking about their story already gets emotional. Trust me; you don't want me to spoil it! Just know that if you're already crying in the beginning, forget about getting through the rest of this movie without crying over how they could've been together in the end. But let's not go there—I don't think I can have a meltdown in the middle of the blog post!
The beginning of the dialogue is extremely relatable. Stella's vlogs are full of what is basically personal confession, and you can sense she is trying to keep things light when even life gets tough. It's like all of us have crappy moments—most of the time, you have to break up with a joke, is it? The movie doesn't force its emotions on your face; instead, they are lurking beneath the surface, ready to strike at the most unexpected time—just like some of those random waves of feels that come out of nowhere when it's 2 a.m.
In short, the opening of Five Feet Apart is a beautifully crafted emotional setup that eases you into the heartbreak that’s coming. And if you think the start is rough to watch, just wait—this is one ride where your heartstrings are definitely going to get pulled!
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