Both a modern-day teenage love story and coming of age story, “Love, Simon” opened on Friday, March 16. Theaters were so packed opening night that many people in my hometown were turned away because the 6:40 p.m. show was sold out; my mother and I even arrived 30 minutes early, but the show was already full. We were determined to see the film and drove 20 minutes across town to another theater and were luckily able to order tickets online on the drive there. That theater was also packed full of people, young and old.
“Love, Simon” follows a high school senior, Simon, often referred to as “Si” by family and friends, struggling to open up to those closest to him about his sexuality when he encounters and befriends an anonymous peer online who is going through the very same struggle. Simon eventually falls in love with his anonymous pen pal and tries to figure out which one of his classmates it could be. However, the story is so much more than that. It expands on other struggles that modern-day teenagers face, with friends, family, teachers, administrators and more.
Something that is so interesting about this film is that a secondary character, Martin, tries to portray himself as the protagonist of the story. There are moments throughout the film in which Martin attempts to take over the story as his own. This seems to be a metaphor for the experience of many people struggling to open up about their identity. Often times people in their lives try to flip the script and make someone else’s struggle and experience about their own life instead.
What seems most important about the impact of this film is that “Love, Simon” has sparked conversation about the experiences of people in the LGBTQA community as it is one of the first mainstream films to follow what it is like for a member of the LGBTQA community to come out to their family and friends. “Love, Simon” showcases what that looks like inside Simon’s own head and what that means for those around him.
Simon, like many people struggling to share their identity, is hesitant to come out to his family and friends because he does that want his sexual orientation to change the way his loved ones view him. This is the part in the film that will likely move you to tears, as it did me, and remind us all that we are far more similar to one another than we are different. When it comes down to it, people—all of us—just want to love and to be loved.
The conversation that has sparked on social media has moved some celebrities to buy out theaters in their hometowns so that people can see the film for free—that is how important this story is to them. Some of these celebrities include Matt Bomer and Neil Patrick Harris.
Bomer posted on Instagram that the movie was an important one to him and he wanted people to enjoy it and embrace it in the same way he has. He bought out the theater in his hometown of Spring, Texas and shared with followers on Instagram how to get tickets.
Harris also took to Instagram to tell the world how much this film meant to him, stating, “How I wish something this brave, powerful, and confident existed when I was struggling with my identity—but how super awesome that a new generation will get to lead by this example.” Harris announced that he and husband David Burtka were so moved by the film that they wanted to pay it forward by purchasing tickets in Harris’ hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Even though West Chester, Pa. may be nowhere near Spring, Texas or Albuquerque, New Mexico, that is no excuse not to go out and see this film. It is worth the $10 movie ticket. Gather friends, family and anyone who needs a story about love and acceptance and take them along to see it. You will walk away from the theater reminded that we are all people and no matter how different our struggles may seem on the outside, we can always relate to one another in some way.
Love, Kaitlin.
Kaitlin Brinker is a fourth-year communication studies major with a minor in journalism. ✉ KB835149@wcupa.edu.