All the Bright Places

I read the book last summer and was super excited to learn that a movie was in the works. Elle Fanning was a good choice in casting, she is sort of what I envisioned Violet Markey to look like. Finch was portrayed nicely by Justice Smith though he in no way resembles the Finch from the books, but that detail could be overlooked. What couldn't be overlooked was the lack of depth in the movie in comparison to the novel. A lot of backstory was left out and the altering of certain events was in my opinion a mistake. I feel like they focused to much on the blooming romance between Violet and Finch and not nearly enough on the mental health of both characters, making them feel a bit flat. The movie could have done with a voice-over for both Violet and Finch since you follow their journeys in a similar matter through the novel. I enjoyed the movie because I could fill in the blanks where I needed because I read the book. Casting was good, acting was good. Story wise it could have been lots and lots better.

When times are dark, and when all feels hopeless, remember all the bright places. And take solace in them with the knowledge that, while life can be hard and unbearable at times, there are more bright places to come, no matter how difficult that can be to imagine. The film valiantly tries to explore the subject of mental illness, and while it meanders at times, it mostly succeeds in its telling. We don't know what other people are going through. We can become complacent within our attitudes to others. And we sometimes find ourselves in that hopeless position of regret, with those 'what if' thoughts that can trouble our mind. A film that resonated with me on mutiple levels, with my own struggles and with the struggles that people close to me have undergone. Seek help if you know you need it, and look after the people in your life, as they might just need your smile, your kind word, and your hand of support.