
“An Imperial Affliction,” the only book written by a reclusive author, Peter Van Houten (Willem Dafoe), ends frustratingly mid-sentence. Literary underpinnings, even fictitious ones, tend to elevate the debate.

It helps that much of “Fault” turns on Hazel’s obsession with a novel about death. Within the typically angst-filled world of a teenager who happens to also have cancer, “Fault” is smarter-than-average as it works its way through one issue after another: first love, first sex, rebellion, identity, the disease, etc. Weber - the writing pair responsible for the lovely hipster romance “(500) Days of Summer” - stick closely to the story and the sensibility, which should please the book’s fans. Director Josh Boone and screenwriters Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Pragmatism was part of the appeal of John Green’s bestselling novel on which the film is based. Indie “It boy” Ed Sheeran is behind the title track.Įven though an unhappy ending is a given, “Fault” is no pity party. There are stolen kisses, longing looks and gauzy montages all set to mood-appropriate alt-rock. We’re in the midst of a romantic movie drought - certainly for the teenage crowd - and “Fault” is about as hearts-and-flowers as it gets.

And for that the timing couldn’t be better. Or as Tim McGraw put it in the classic country song, live like you were dying - good advice, since we all are. Despite the way death and cancer gnaw at “The Fault in Our Stars,” the new teenage love story starring Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort is really about living.
