Film screening hits close to home for two UNC seniors

Hope Griffin and Scott Possiel know how it feels to be Anna and Jacob.

The pair, two UNC seniors, spent about six months apart two years into their relationship — much like the main characters in director Drake Doremus’ award-winning film, “Like Crazy,” to be screened for the UNC community at Chelsea Theater tonight.

Griffin said she had only just heard of the film, but was immediately excited to see and relate to it.

Lauren Gilbert, publicity and promotions coordinator for Allied Integrated Marketing, which is sponsoring the event, said the film is especially relatable for college students which is why they chose Chapel Hill for the showing.

Allied does not disclose costs for their promotional events.

“Like Crazy” tells the story of two college-aged adults in a relationship complicated by thousands of miles.

Griffin and Possiel, who started dating as freshmen, had their first taste of long-distance dating the summer before their junior year.

Griffin spent the summer traveling across the country while Possiel studied in Spain.

After reuniting for a semester, Griffin left to study abroad in Spain. For her, this separation was much deeper than the first.

“I always thought I was very independent,” she said. “I finally admitted to myself that I needed him more than I thought I did.”

The couple — now engaged to be married next December — went through periods of adjustment that were almost unbearable.

After Griffin’s semester in Spain, she returned to the states.

Even though they were closer, there remained a sense of tension, Possiel said.

“When I would call, (the job) is all she wanted to talk about, and I didn’t care. I didn’t relate,” he said. “When she got back, she was still in that mode, and it was hard. You definitely have to be patient.”

Griffin said the plan before their time abroad was to attend grad school — possibly separately — and get married in about three years.

She said they soon realized their relationship probably wouldn’t survive that.

But the couple agreed that the benefits of their time apart outweighed the tension and difficulty.

“Being away makes you realize what you value, because that’s what you miss,” Possiel said.

Contact the Arts Editor at arts@dailytarheel.com.