Young love, loss explored in "Everything, Everything"

"Everything, Everything" director Stella Meghie, left actress Anika Noni Rose, and actress Amandla Stenberg at SCADShow. Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Warner Bros.

Credit: Getty Images

Credit: Getty Images

"Everything, Everything" director Stella Meghie, left actress Anika Noni Rose, and actress Amandla Stenberg at SCADShow. Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for Warner Bros.

"Everything, Everything," due for a Friday release, wasn't filmed in Atlanta but did have a well-attended advance screening, luncheon and panel discussion here recently. Its star Amandla Stenberg has been in Atlanta lately filming a different movie, "The Darkest Minds." So we're claiming it.

"This is kind of like my first leading role, " she said during the screening event, held at SCADShow in Midtown and the W hotel across the street. "It feels really powerful and appropriate."

She stars as Maddy, a teen forced to spend her entire life inside. A rare disease she was diagnosed with as a baby has rendered her immune system powerless to fight off even the tiniest germ, so she dares never to step outside. Then a handsome guy moves in next door.

Here's the trailer:

The movie is poignant, thought-provoking and brilliantly directed, with a smart use of technology offering an experience that feels immersive and authentic. Joining Stenberg at the SCADShow event were Anika Noni Rose, who plays Maddy's mother, a physician obsessed with protecting her daughter, and director Stella Meghie.

"I think it's going to be something you haven't seen before, " Rose said. "Ultimately it's about love, how love can heal us, how love can hurt us, how love can move us."