Inbetween Girl (2021)

Teen artist Angie Chen does NOT like Liam-she just likes getting rides home from him after soccer practice. Okay, so he has great eyebrows, but he’s with Sheryl, the Instagram princess of their Episcopalian private school. After Angie is blindsided by her parents’ sudden divorce, Liam serves as a welcome distraction. However, when that distraction comes knocking on her window in the middle of the night, a secret hookup will set Angie on a journey of sexual awakenings, racial insecurities, and artistic expression as she comes to discover what she wants-and who she wants to be.From the very first moment, I feel like Angie is someone I know intimately. Emma Galbraith’s performance is stunning and heartfelt (and funny!). I really hope to see her in more complex roles like this.Director Mei Makino has created something phenomenal and unforgettable.These are the teenagers I want to see in movies! Characters who are real and flawed – and dealing with problems so many understand. Angie is someone you root for the entire film without them stripping her of her ability to make mistakes. No blank-canvas characters or too-perfect “strong females” in this movie.Beautifully shot in a location that makes Angie’s personality feel even more three-dimensional. The colors and style of the film bring her (and the people around her) to life.No spoilers here – but the way this film deals with teenage relationships is something I’ve never seen on screen. The writing mixes the magic of first love with the grounded realism that makes viewers feel seen and understood.I would (and will!) recommend this to anyone who wants to feel like their struggle to find themselves is normal, and that they can work through it. Beautiful, beautiful story.