Clouds Parent Guide

If you were around young people in 2012 or 2013, chances are you frequently heard playlists featuring Clouds. Written and performed by Zach Sobiech, a teenager with terminal cancer, the cheerful, bouncy song lifted hearts around the world as it climbed the charts. Now, director Justin Baldoni has created an equally heartwarming film about Zach and his music.

The movie begins in 2012, as Zach (Fin Argus) balances the challenges of chemotherapy with the normal problems that come with adolescence. He’s too scared to ask the girl he likes (Madison Iseman) on a date – after all, he reasons, who wants to date a bald cancer patient? He and his best friend, Sam (Sabrina Carpenter), write songs, but he’s reluctant to perform them, preferring to cover popular music. Then the really bad news comes – the chemo isn’t working and Zach’s going to die, likely before he graduates.

Knowing his time is short focuses Zach’s thinking. His English teacher asks the class “What do you want to do with your one wild and precious life?” Zach takes this to heart and the remaining months of his life are his answer to this question.

Clouds is not a subtle film, but it is a sincere one and that makes it more than just another weepy teen film. Zach is irresistible, filled with courage, relentless optimism, and an endearing desire to make everyone around him happy. Watching him smile into his bathroom mirror every morning, even when he’s suffering the effects of chemotherapy, is to see a young man gathering emotional strength before he heads off to face the day. It’s an incredibly heart-tugging moment. For all that, the film is careful not to turn Zach into a saint – he’s a normal teenager who sometimes pushes away those who love him. And like any teenager (or adult for that matter), he struggles to answer the perennial question, “Why is this happening to me?” What gives his story its resonance is that Zach doesn’t get bogged down in the “Why?”, moving on quickly to the next question: “What now?”

Given the arc of Zach’s story, it’s not surprising that this movie comes with a flood of positive messages, chief of which is Zach’s example of finding meaning and courage in the face of adversity. He’s also surrounded by empathetic, supportive people who will rekindle your faith in the power of communities to come together. Families, too, are lauded as the film offers a positive, realistic look at a loving family that suffers the strain of Zach’s impending death, while still managing to pull together. The only issue that might give parents pause is the movie’s sexual content, which consists of a few make-out sessions in bed. There is some passionate kissing and a few items of clothing are removed, but there is no nudity or sexual intercourse.

This film should be inspirational for teens but it might be hard for parents to watch. As a mom, this movie is my worst nightmare. Watching as Rob and Laura Sobiech are given Zach’s terminal diagnosis is a gut punch. And listening to Laura and Zach discuss his advance directive and funeral plans will likely make parents cry. I know I did. But for viewers of any age, the movie’s message is worth the tears.