Five Feet Apart tells the story of teenagers Stella (Haley Lu Richardson) and Will (Cole Sprouse), two hospital patients who have been confined to their rooms. Stella has cystic fibrosis and has lived in and out of the hospital her whole life because of the disease. Will is another “CFer” who is in the hospital seeking treatment for the bacterial infection in his lungs. Due to their disease, the two cannot be within six feet of each other and struggle to maintain this distance throughout the movie. 

At the beginning of the film, we meet Stella, a responsible teenager who stays on top of her regimen and is always organized with her time. She has a daily to-do list, as well as a master’s to-do list that she loves to cross things off of. Stella also has a YouTube channel that she uses to share the daily life experiences of a “CFer” with the world. She has done daily films since she was younger.

Audiences are then introduced to Will, a witty, rebellious patient who periodically takes his medication and struggles to stay as healthy as could be. Will is a talented artist who uses his drawings to release the many emotions he experiences. He shares a number of these drawings with Stella, who loves the simplicity and humor behind each of them. 

Although Stella takes an instant dislike to Will, she soon overcomes it after she gets to know the real Will. The pair quickly fall in love, staying in touch through FaceTime calls and notes they slip under each other’s doors. 

Sprouse and Richardson are both charming and likable characters. This movie is a beautiful, inspirational story about fighting for what you believe in and being willing to make sacrifices along the way. Although cystic fibrosis patients need to stay six feet apart at all times, Stella and Will fought to take back the sixth foot, and instead remained five feet apart whenever together. What makes this movie different from other teen romances is that it shows the pureness of love and how two can be in love without ever having physical touch. After experiencing daily life through two people with a terminal illness, audiences can leave with a new perspective on the world around them. This movie is a must-see for those that love an inspirational story with teen romance and comedy.