Directed by: George C. Wolfe
Starring: Hilary Swank, Emmy Rossum, Josh Duhamel, Jason Ritter, Frances Fisher
Genre: Drama / Illness / Friendship

You’re Not You (2014), directed by George C. Wolfe, is a deeply moving drama that explores the power of human connection in the face of devastating illness. Adapted from the novel by Michelle Wildgen, the film centers on Kate (Hilary Swank), a talented classical pianist diagnosed with ALS, and Bec (Emmy Rossum), a struggling college student who becomes her unlikely caregiver.

What begins as a mismatched relationship slowly evolves into a transformative bond. Kate, once composed and elegant, is forced to confront the loss of control over her body and life, while Bec, messy and impulsive, learns to grow up through the experience of caring for someone else. The emotional core of the film lies in how these two women help each other rediscover dignity, freedom, and meaning.

Hilary Swank delivers a remarkable performance, portraying Kate’s physical decline with grace and authenticity, while also capturing her fierce intelligence and vulnerability. Emmy Rossum shines as Bec, balancing humor and heart in a role that could easily have felt cliché. Their chemistry carries the film and grounds it in genuine emotion.

The direction is sensitive, avoiding melodrama, and the screenplay focuses on the small, intimate moments of care, frustration, and joy. It also quietly touches on the themes of assisted living, mortality, and the importance of choosing how we live—and die.

You’re Not You isn’t a flashy film, but it’s an honest and poignant story about resilience, friendship, and the impact one life can have on another. A tearjerker with purpose, it reminds us that sometimes, the most unexpected relationships teach us who we really are.