By: Ava Rogha
If I Stay (2014) is a romantic drama based on the novel by Gayle Forman, and is nearly just as good as the famous Nicholas Sparks movies!
It follows the tragic life story of 17 year old high school girl and musician Mia Hall (Chloë Moretz), after her and her family get involved in a brutal car accident. Mia’s parents die at the scene, but her and her younger brother, Teddy (Jakob Davies), are brought to the hospital shortly after.
Mia’s life is turned upside down in the matter of seconds. She goes from being an ordinary high school girl with everyday problems, to a girl whose life’s at stake.
If I Stay focuses on the space between life and death, which is what we refer to as a coma, and the tough choice this young musician has to make — whether to fight for her life or give up.
Her story as a cellist is played through flashbacks in her mind, while in a coma. From the highlights and the setbacks to, most importantly, her life-long dream of getting accepted into The Juilliard School.
Mia also has flashbacks of her romantic relationship with Adam (Jamie Blackley), a literal Rockstar — the exact opposite of Mia, as you probably can tell!
"You're my home, Mia. I don't care where we are, I just care that we're together."
She would do anything to impress him, to be more like him and his people, even though her passion for cello is undeniably strong.
The movie shows the viewer bits and pieces of their complicated relationship and the obstacles they have to overcome in order to be with each other. Spoiler alert: you’ll even get to see how the two met, and already from their first conversation, you can tell their obvious differences!
As Mia’s in a coma, she has her grandparents, best friend, Kim (Liana Liberato) and most importantly, Adam, tell her stories to keep her alive for as long as possible. Mia might not be physically awake, but she is fully aware of her surroundings and is left with the choice of returning back to Adam and Kim, even though the rest of her closest family is already gone.
"I'm still here and I'm crazy in love with you...Please...Stay."
Chloë Moretz, who plays Mia, does an excellent job representing her character in vulnerable situations. Unlike most dramas nowadays, where 16 year old characters are played by 20 year olds, Chloë was also 17 when the movie was released. This has impacted the movie’s authenticity and connection with its audience positively.
This emotional movie presents us with Mia’s close bond with her grandparents, who seem to be the only family she’s got left. And, in a heartbreaking scene at the hospital, Mia’s grandpa gives her the permission to die — if that’s what she wants. This scene shows a raw representation of Mia’s relationship with her grandpa, and how much she loves and respects him.
“If you want to go, I want you to know it’s ok.”
Adam and Kim are accepting the fact that Mia might never return from her coma, but Adam’s emotional goodbye, as he’s reading out Mia’s long-awaited acceptance letter to Juilliard, gives her a reason to return to them.
It is unimaginable how Mia’s life could ever return to normal, especially with the loss of her parents. It’s impossible to imagine her life without them. But, if you were given the chance to pursue your long-life dream, despite the trauma you’ve been through, would you take it?
"I realise now that dying is easy, living is hard."
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