Written and directed by Mei Makino, Inbetween Girl is a heartwarming, genuine story about growing up, facing the consequences for actions, and finding oneself along the way. Coming-of-age stories are hard to nail, but Makino’s writing is sincere and there’s a deep understanding of the leading character, which makes Inbetween Girl such a joy to watch. A fully realized and touching narrative is strengthened by an endearingly fantastic cast, making Makino’s feature film debut all the more worthwhile.
Inbetween Girl instantly engages with its audience by doing something somewhat unique. It’s a coming-of-age story that sees its protagonist, Angie Chen (Emma Galbraith), recording a video for her future self. At this point in Angie’s life, everything is not going so well. Her parents have recently gotten a divorce after years of arguments and disagreements, which means Angie now lives with her mom and only sees her father twice a month. She’s frustrated when she discovers her dad has moved on so soon and is now dating another woman. Meanwhile, the distance between her and her mother keeps growing. At school, Angie has a crush on Liam (William Magnuson), who drives her to and from school everyday. Things get complicated when Angie and Liam start sleeping together despite the fact he has an influencer girlfriend, Sheryl (Emily Garrett).
Makino perfectly encapsulates Angie's adolescent struggles — from her inability to cope with her parents' divorce and her acting out because of it to feeling like the only person she can talk to about her issues is herself (via video). However, there is never a single moment that feels inauthentic or contrived, with Makino seamlessly pivoting from one aspect of Angie's life to the next. What's more, Angie gets to experience a full range of emotion and Galbraith portrays every single one with such sincerity and depth and the audience will be hard-pressed not to feel with her and for her. The actress masterfully balances Angie's sense of self assuredness with layers of her insecurities.
The character is lost and confused, navigating the changes in her life by lashing out in anger and hurt (an avoidance tactic to be sure). However, Angie is emotionally intelligent and also knows when enough is enough. Makino allows her the time to understand and grow in a meaningful and satisfying way. Life is rough and being a teenager confusing, but Inbetween Girl handles the elements of adolescence without a hint of pretension and with a whole lot of heart. Angie leaving videos for her adult self isn't unique, though there is something wonderfully endearing about this act that makes the story all the more memorable.
The concept showcases Angie's ability to be honest with herself in a way she can't be with others. There's a sense of trust and humbling honesty that is exuded until Angie is ready to speak with others the way she does herself and it's quite beautiful. The film's main source of conflict, that of Angie's affair with Liam, is also handled gently. It doesn't overstay its welcome and provides Angie with several moments of clarity. The plot even offers Cheryl, who is one-dimensional at the start of the film and someone Angie believes is the "it" girl, a chance to become far more of a multifaceted person. The film also engages with Angie's dual identity as a half-Chinese American teen, the confusion she feels due to not knowing Mandarin fluently, and the rift that seems to widen knowing her father has hidden certain parts of his identity as a Chinese immigrant from her growing up. Angie grapples with these complicated subjects with believability as she works to understand and reframe her life.
When it comes to most coming-of-age stories, balance is hard to achieve, honest self-reflection and authenticity even more so. However, Inbetween Girl manages to convey its protagonist's struggle in a relatable way while providing the space for her development. Makino's use of a video footage time capsule works incredibly well in this instance, cleverly providing exposition and genuine emotional beats and conflict for Angie. Galbraith is outstanding as Angie and the strength of her performance, along with a fantastic supporting cast, bolsters the film even more. Makino has a strong sense of narrative direction and, with fluid and well-placed writing and dialogue, Inbetween Girl may be one of the best coming-of-age stories in some time.
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