The Half of It (2020)
Story overview
The Half of It is a 2020 coming-of-age romantic comedy-drama about a shy, academically gifted student who helps a popular jock write love letters to win over a girl they both secretly admire. As their friendship deepens through this unconventional arrangement, all three characters navigate complex feelings of identity, friendship, and unexpected connections in their small town. The film explores themes of self-discovery, first love, and the courage to be true to oneself.
Parent Guide
A thoughtful coming-of-age story about identity and connection that handles mature themes with sensitivity.
Content breakdown
No physical violence or perilous situations.
No frightening or disturbing imagery.
Occasional mild language typical of teen conversations.
Discussion of romantic feelings and attraction without explicit content.
No depiction of substance use.
Characters experience emotional confusion and vulnerability around identity and relationships.
Parent tips
This PG-13 rated film deals with themes of sexual identity, unrequited love, and teenage self-discovery in a thoughtful manner. Parents should be prepared to discuss how the characters navigate confusing emotions and societal expectations. The film presents these topics with sensitivity and humor, making it suitable for mature middle schoolers and teenagers with parental guidance.
Parent chat guide
Parent follow-up questions
- What was your favorite part of the movie?
- How did the friends help each other?
- What makes someone a good friend?
- Why do you think the characters kept secrets from each other?
- How did writing letters help the characters express their feelings?
- What did you learn about being honest with friends?
- How did the movie show that people can have complicated feelings?
- What did the characters learn about being true to themselves?
- How did the friendships in the movie change as the characters grew?
- How does the film challenge traditional ideas about romance and attraction?
- What does the movie suggest about the relationship between honesty and friendship?
- How do the characters navigate societal expectations versus their personal identities?
🎭 Story Kernel
At its core, 'The Half of It' is less about romantic love and more about the profound loneliness of being unseen. Ellie Chu, Paul Munsky, and Aster Flores are all trapped by expectations—Ellie by her immigrant family's financial struggles and intellectual isolation, Paul by his small-town jock persona, and Aster by her engagement to a vapid boyfriend and religious family. Their triangular correspondence becomes a collective act of self-discovery, where writing for someone else allows them to articulate their own suppressed desires and identities. The film argues that we often find ourselves by helping others articulate what they cannot say, and that the most authentic connections are forged not in perfect alignment, but in the mutual recognition of each other's fragmented humanity.
🎬 Visual Aesthetics
Director Alice Wu employs a muted, often damp visual palette of greys, blues, and greens, mirroring the soggy, isolating atmosphere of Squahamish. The framing consistently places characters behind barriers—windows, fences, locker doors—visually emphasizing their emotional imprisonment. The camera lingers on quiet, intimate moments: Ellie's focused handwriting, the steam of a shared pot of pho, the reflective surface of a lake. These are contrasted with the harsh, fluorescent lights of the school or the diner, highlighting the disparity between inner life and public performance. The film's most symbolic sequence is the final train departure, shot through a rain-streaked window, representing both painful separation and the beginning of a journey toward a more authentic existence.
🔍 Details & Easter Eggs
💡 Behind the Scenes
Leah Lewis (Ellie Chu) is not a newcomer; she voiced the lead in 'The Good Witch' animated series and had roles in 'Station 19,' but this was her breakthrough film role. The fictional town of Squahamish was filmed primarily in and around the very real small towns of upstate New York, like Tannersville and Catskill, chosen for their authentically weathered, non-picturesque quality. Director Alice Wu has noted that the script was partly inspired by her own experiences growing up as a closeted Asian-American, and she fought to keep the ending ambiguous and bittersweet, resisting studio pressure for a more conventional romantic resolution.
Where to watch
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Trailer
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