Now Is Good
Now Is Good is a 2012 British romantic drama film written and directed by Ol Parker, adapted from Jenny Downham's 2007 young adult novel Before I Die.[1][2] The story centers on Tessa Scott, a 17-year-old girl diagnosed with leukemia who, upon deciding to forgo further chemotherapy, compiles a list of adventurous experiences she wants to pursue before her death, including losing her virginity and engaging in acts of rebellion, all while navigating family dynamics and a budding romance.[3][1] Starring Dakota Fanning in the lead role as Tessa, the film also features Jeremy Irvine as her love interest Adam, alongside Paddy Considine, Olivia Williams, and Kaya Scodelario in supporting roles as Tessa's family and friends.[3] Produced by BBC Films, the British Film Institute, and Warner Bros. Pictures, Now Is Good premiered at the Chichester International Film Festival on 31 August 2012, with a London screening on 13 September 2012, and was theatrically released in the United Kingdom on 19 September 2012.[3] The film runs for 103 minutes and explores themes of mortality, love, and seizing the moment.[2] Upon release, Now Is Good received mixed reviews from critics, earning a 56% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 27 reviews, with praise for Fanning's performance and the emotional depth but criticism for familiar tropes and uneven pacing.[1] Audiences were more favorable, giving it a 64% score on the same site from over 2,500 ratings, appreciating its heartfelt message and tearjerker elements.[1] The film grossed approximately $2.27 million worldwide at the box office, reflecting modest commercial success for an independent drama.[3]Development
Novel basis
Before I Die is a young adult novel written by British author Jenny Downham, first published on July 5, 2007, by David Fickling Books.[4] The story is narrated from the first-person perspective of 16-year-old Tessa Scott, who is battling terminal leukemia and has only a few months left to live.[5] It explores profound themes of mortality, the desire for freedom, and the pursuit of meaningful experiences in the face of impending death, offering a raw and emotional portrayal of illness and its impact on Tessa's relationships with her family and friends.[6] Central to the novel are key elements such as Tessa's creation of a bucket list, which includes ambitious and sometimes risky goals like losing her virginity, experimenting with drugs, and seeking reconciliation with her estranged family members.[5] Downham's introspective narrative style captures the protagonist's wit, fear, and defiance, providing an unflinching look at the physical and emotional toll of her condition while emphasizing life's affirmations.[6] The novel achieved significant commercial and critical success, selling over 1.3 million copies worldwide and being translated into 35 languages.[7] It won the 2008 Branford Boase Award and was shortlisted for the 2008 Guardian Children's Fiction Prize as well as the 2008 Lancashire Children's Book of the Year.[8][9][5] Film adaptation rights to Before I Die were acquired in 2007 by Blueprint Pictures, in association with Pathé, Film4, and the UK Film Council, with BBC Films later providing financing for the project.[10] Ol Parker was brought on to adapt the novel into the screenplay for the film Now Is Good.[11]Pre-production
Ol Parker was attached as writer and director of Now Is Good in 2009, building on his experience directing the romantic comedy Imagine Me & You (2005). He adapted Jenny Downham's 2007 novel Before I Die into a screenplay over three months, prioritizing visual storytelling to externalize the protagonist's inner thoughts and emotions rather than relying on the book's first-person internal monologue.[12] Production was supported by BBC Films starting in 2010, with an estimated budget of $4.5 million to facilitate a focused, intimate drama.[13] In adapting the source material, Parker adjusted the age of protagonist Tessa from 16 to 17. The screenplay was finalized by early 2011, after which pre-production commenced in mid-2011 in London, encompassing location scouting, medical consultations for accuracy on leukemia, and initial creative refinements before principal photography.[12]Production
Casting
Dakota Fanning was attached to star as Tessa Scott, the film's lead, as early as September 2010.[14] In May 2011, casting directors Gold & Sterne added Jeremy Irvine to play the romantic lead Adam, alongside Kaya Scodelario as Tessa's friend Zoey; Irvine had recently completed principal photography on War Horse.[15][14] That same month, Paddy Considine joined as Tessa's father Callum and Olivia Williams as her mother Caroline, rounding out the principal family roles in this British production.[14] The selections emphasized British performers for authenticity in the Brighton-set story, with Fanning as the sole American lead adopting a British accent.[16] Principal casting wrapped by mid-2011 ahead of filming that summer.[17]Filming
Principal photography for Now Is Good took place over eight weeks, from July to September 2011.[18] The production filmed primarily on location in southern England to capture the story's intimate and adventurous tone. Urban and beach scenes were shot in Brighton, East Sussex, including sequences at the Brighton Pier and nearby coastal areas. Forest sequences were filmed at Burnham Beeches in Buckinghamshire, while outdoor adventure scenes utilized the River Cuckmere and Seven Sisters Country Park near Exceat, East Sussex. Interior scenes, particularly those depicting the family home, were constructed and shot at Shepperton Studios in Surrey.[18][19][18] Director Ol Parker approached the film's sensitive subject matter with care, meeting 16-year-old Alice Pyne, who had Hodgkin's lymphoma, to inform the depiction of the protagonist's experience. Parker aimed for a life-affirming narrative that avoided descending into despair, emphasizing moments of joy and transformation, such as a pivotal nighttime beach scene.[20] Key crew members included cinematographer Erik Wilson, who handled the visual capture using ARRICAM Studio and Lite cameras with Zeiss Master Prime lenses to convey emotional intimacy. Production designer Amanda McArthur oversaw the sets, focusing on authentic environments that reflected the characters' everyday lives.[21][22][23]Music
The original score for Now Is Good was composed by Dustin O'Halloran, an American pianist known for his work on Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette (2006).[24] The score features piano-driven tracks such as "Mirror," "Bonfire Curiosity," and "Wings," designed to underscore the film's emotional moments with minimalist and introspective arrangements.[25] It was recorded in 2012, aligning with the film's production timeline.[25] The film incorporates several key licensed songs to complement the score. "Blue Jeans" by Lana Del Rey (Gesaffelstein Remix) plays during romance scenes, adding a layer of intimacy and melancholy.[26] "Soufie" by Banco de Gaia features in the opening sequence, setting an atmospheric tone.[26] "Dirge" by Death in Vegas accompanies the funeral sequence, enhancing its somber mood.[26] "Grey Shirt & Tie" by Spector provides youthful energy in scenes depicting the characters' adventures.[26] The official soundtrack album, Now Is Good (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), was released on 19 September 2012 by Splinter Records and contains 19 tracks primarily from O'Halloran's score.[27][25] In the film, the music plays a pivotal role in enhancing themes of fleeting joy, with the delicate piano score often contrasting the more upbeat licensed songs that accompany the protagonist's bucket list activities.[27]Story and cast
Plot
Tessa Scott, a 17-year-old girl from Brighton, England, has been battling leukemia for three years when her condition becomes terminal, prompting her to stop chemotherapy treatments in favor of living fully in her remaining time.[11] With her best friend Zoey, Tessa compiles a bucket list of experiences she wants to have before dying, including skinny-dipping, trying drugs, having sex, and even hitting a racist.[11] Her family dynamics add layers of tension: her strict, overprotective father Callum obsessively searches online for miracle cures and enforces isolation to shield her, while her supportive mother Caroline remains in denial about the severity of Tessa's illness, often missing hospital visits; Tessa also navigates life with her younger brother Cal, whose perky but insensitive demeanor highlights the family's strained coping mechanisms.[28][29] As Tessa pursues her list, she meets Adam, the sensitive son of her new neighbors, who has recently lost his father to cancer and shares an understanding of grief. Their chance encounter sparks a romance, evolving from flirtation to deep emotional intimacy, with Adam helping her cross off items like a thrilling motorcycle ride through fields of wild horses at sunset.[11][29] Family interventions intensify as Callum discovers Tessa's escapades and clashes with Adam's involvement, leading to hospital stays where Tessa's rebellious spirit clashes with medical realities; comedic and poignant moments arise during list fulfillments, blending levity with the underlying tragedy. Zoey's own subplot, involving her unplanned pregnancy and consideration of abortion, intersects with Tessa's journey, adding complexity to their friendship.[1] Tessa's health deteriorates rapidly, forcing confrontations and reconciliations within her family—Callum softens his rigidity, Caroline faces the truth, and bonds strengthen amid the chaos. In the climax, as Tessa weakens, she shares tender final moments with Adam, reflecting on their love and her unfulfilled dreams. The film concludes with Tessa's peaceful death at home, followed by a montage imagining an alternate life where she survives, healthy and thriving with loved ones, underscoring themes of acceptance and what might have been.[11][29] The narrative employs non-linear elements through occasional flashbacks to Tessa's pre-diagnosis life, enhancing emotional depth and contrasting her past vitality with her present struggles, all within a 103-minute runtime that balances dramatic intensity with moments of humor and romance.[28] While the film adapts Jenny Downham's novel Before I Die, it streamlines certain subplots for a more focused cinematic story.[11]Cast
The film features Dakota Fanning in the lead role, supported by a predominantly British ensemble cast to align with the story's English setting and enhance authenticity.[30]| Actor | Character |
|---|---|
| Dakota Fanning | Tessa Scott |
| Jeremy Irvine | Adam |
| Paddy Considine | Callum Scott (father) |
| Olivia Williams | Caroline Scott (mother) |
| Kaya Scodelario | Zoey Walker |
| Edgar Canham | Cal Scott (younger brother) |
| Rose Leslie | Fiona |
| Joe Cole | Scott |
| Franz Drameh | Tommy |
| Julian Wadham | Dr. Ryan |
| Rakie Ayola | Phillippa |
| Susan Brown | Shirley |
| Sarah Hadland | Nurse |
| Isabella Laughland | Beth |
| Patrick Baladi | Richard |
| Julia Ford | Marianne |
| Josef Altin | Friend |
| Tom Fisher | Simon |
| Kate Dickie | Woman Doctor |
| Annabelle Dowler | Young Zoey |
| Andrew Knott | Matt |