Hiiiii! its @dykeangst here to share my thoughts on THE HALF OF IT, a heartwarming coming of age story that revolves around a closeted Chinese-American immigrant Ellie Chu, written and directed by Alice Wu.
(SPOILERS AHEAD)
(SPOILERS AHEAD)
If that name rings a bell, it’s because Alice Wu also directed SAVING FACE (2005), a critically acclaimed Asian-American, lesbian rom-com. So you already know she's gonna do right by the gays.
As Ellie says, THE HALF OF IT is NOT a love story. It’s a story about finding yourself in unexpected ways. Wu shows us all the ways love can be messy, unfair, and unrequited. THE HALF OF IT perfectly captures what it's like to yearn for someone you can’t have. 
Ellie Chu is the definition of repressed longing. As a girl who likes girls, I can confirm that Ellie’s gay panic makes me feel seen.
Here’s how THE HALF OF IT put a spin on rom-com staples: by making them gay
You have the shy nerd pinning for the popular girl in school… they write letters to each other… letters.
The cliche bumping-into-each-other-in-a-crowded-hallway interaction... I'm sold
Oh to casually lock eyes with the girl you like in a bathroom mirror.
This is what gay yearning looks like:
Something that stuck with me was this analogy about making a “bold stroke.”
Wu asks us to take a leap of faith; whether it be applying to colleges or talking to your crush or changing your family's sausage recipe!
Paul and Ellie’s relationship is literally the embodiment of this post
If anything, this film is about those once in a million moments; three people who just happen to cross paths at a moment in time. And as a result they help each other grow and learn, all while trying to understand what love means to them - whether it be romantic or platonic love.
Leah Lewis, Daniel Diemer, and Alexxis Lemire do an amazing job embodying their characters. There's a certain authenticity to all the actors' performances that makes you believe that they're just teenagers trying to navigate their way through the world. Bonus: they’re all hot.
I know from personal experiences that coming to terms with your sexuality can be a difficult process, which is why I think it’s so important for queer kids to be able to see a character learn to accept themselves.
Given today’s political climate, the film’s discussion of the xenophobia that immigrants face is incredibly relevant.
It's refreshing to see a movie that simultaneously embraces a main character’s their sexuality and cultural identity. As an Asian immigrant living in a conservative area myself, I feel like so many others who come from similar backgrounds will relate to Ellie’s experiences 🥺
Obviously, the ending is gonna be a little controversial. I was rooting for Ellie to get the girl as much as the next gay, but the fact that they go their separate ways feels way more realistic & reiterates the points made throughout the movie: you don’t always get what you want.
The character's endings feel like their beginnings. In the end, finding each other has allowed them to find themselves. To me, “the half of it” could mean the characters finding themselves, finding each other, or both.
THE HALF OF IT is definitely a step forward in representation, and you can now watch it on Netflix! Happy streaming ♡
