**This article contains SPOILERS**
“It stops here. With me and you. It ends with us.” The infamous quote summing this whole series up. It Ends With Us started as a book written by famous author, Colleen Hoover.
The 2016 romance novel is what made Hoover famous. This book was so loved that it became a movie.
On Aug. 9, the movie edition of It Ends With Us starring Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni hit theaters. The whole plotline of this story speaks loudly.
The message is heavy and deep, and portrayed so well, and this is sure to have long effects on the new generations.
The story follows a young girl named Lily and the man she falls in love with, Ryle. They share a classic romance novel relationship… at first. Everything seems picture perfect. But, Ryle becomes very abusive.
The narrative closely follows just how difficult and draining it can be to leave a relationship of domestic abuse.
What’s interesting though, is especially when you first read the book, you end up falling in love with Ryle the same way Lily did. Even though he’s a narcissist and abusive, it’s clear how easy it is to fall into that situation.
The other deep concept through the plot is that the cycle of domestic abuse is generational.
Lily’s mom was abused by her father, and this severely affected her formative years. She ends up leaving Ryle to break the cycle for her and her daughter. This message will speak loudly to many people, and will show them that you really can get out.
As the newer generations, such as mine, starting as fans of the novel, see this movie and reflect on the storytelling, this could change the passage of abuse in relationships. Lily finds her strength. And so can any person out there.
It’s no secret Gen Z is pretty progressive and headstrong. If anyone could make big changes, it’s the young adults of the world right now.
These stories of both heartbreak and success are what we will all remember seeing as we were the ages of entering the real world.
It Ends With Us has shown not only young girls in my generation, but also the guys, that love can’t always sustain a relationship. And no matter how bad you want it, if it’s hurting you, go get help.
Additionally, generations like Gen Alpha are still young kids. They are absorbing everything they hear and see right now.
Whether they know the storyline of It Ends With Us, I’m sure they will hear about it from their older siblings, social media, their parents, etc.
These kids will have a foundation built on speaking up, having courage, and seeing boldness. All from the effects of this book and movie. Teaching kids at young ages about the darkness in this world and how to rise above it will only help them protect themselves and others for generations to come.
Justin Baldoni, who plays the role of Ryle, has done a magnificent job marketing the movie by providing resources and information to those suffering from domestic abuse.
“If a Lily Bloom in real life can sit in this theater, and make a different choice for herself than the one that was made for her, maybe she sees herself on that screen and chooses something different for herself,” Baldoni said in an interview promoting the film.
Baldoni has partnered with https://www.nomore.org on a mission of “Speaking up to transform culture and end domestic violence.”
These huge celebrities using their voice for good and showing a huge variety of people on social media how to speak up and change their story, speaks massive volumes to us all.
The world of social media and film culture these days as a whole can be toxic and degrading. But, as seen in recent examples around It Ends With Us, my generation is right, entertainment platforms can truly change lives for the better.
All of the younger people seeing this advocacy will result in all of us fighting for awareness and change. We can break generational cycles, we can get help, and we can stand up for ourselves or those being abused in what should be a relationship full of love.
This can stop with the younger generations. Our eyes have been opened. This really does end with us.
