The Half of It
Overview
The Half of It is a 2020 coming-of-age romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Alice Wu. The film stars Leah Lewis as Ellie Chu, a smart, introverted, Chinese-American teenager who lives in a small, conservative town. She is hired by a jock, Paul Munsky (Daniel Diemer), to write love letters to a popular girl, Aster Flores (Alexxis Lemire). Ellie falls in love with Aster herself. The film is a sweet, smart, and poignant coming-of-age story. It was a critical success, praised for its writing, its performances, and its exploration of queer identity. The film explores themes of love, friendship, and the search for connection. The film is a modern, queer retelling of Cyrano de Bergerac. The film features a memorable performance by Leah Lewis as the quiet, thoughtful Ellie.
