Inbetween Girl | A Film I Needed Much Earlier in Life

Angie Chen is reeling from her parents’ divorce, feeling alone, and figuring out her place in the world. As a mixed race teenager, she’s not only dealing with typical high school drama, but also struggling with her identity. Her father’s new family seems to embody all the parts of her Chinese heritage she never did. Meanwhile, her ultimate crush, Liam, is dating the school’s most popular and beautiful blonde girl. Despite it all, Liam and Angie connect and she finds herself making questionable choices and in situations that will truly test who she wants to be in the world. 

Inbetween Girl was riveting and comedic. A film that offered such valid representation of my experiences, I wanted to jump onscreen and give Angie a hug. The storyline was simple enough that it was easily digestible for a fun movie night, but it was emotional and thought-provoking. As an Asian woman and transracial adoptee that struggles with my racial and cultural identities, I was able to relate to Angie’s struggles. I felt validated seeing my experiences and the experiences of many other Asians portrayed on the screen so genuinely. 

I loved Angie’s humor and individuality. While she may not always have been unapologetically herself, she struggled through and eventually began to embrace her uniqueness. Emma Galbraith was a fantastic choice for Angie and her raw emotions were projected beautifully onscreen. 

While the micro-aggressions shown in the movie were specific to Asians, I think anyone who has struggled with identity will appreciate this film. (Almost?) everyone has had a time where they felt misunderstood by their parents, have no clue who they are supposed to be in life, and find themselves in a sticky situation without a clear solution. That’s what I appreciated most from this film. The fairy tale ending wasn’t there. The resolution felt authentic to Angie’s story and to life. No matter what age, we are all trying to figure ourselves out and while we may not be able to wrap everything up with a neat bow, we can keep moving forward and work to embrace a bit more of ourselves every day. 

To keep up to date with showings and events of Inbetween Girl, visit: inbetweengirlfilm.com

Check out my video review here: