Inbetween Girl Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.0

Inbetween Girl Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf February 1, 2023

Writer/director Mei Makino makes a strong helming debut with “Inbetween Girl,” examining the turbulent life of a teenager caught up in trouble when it comes to love, family, and sex. It follows recent dives into the adolescent heart, including “Eighth Grade” and “Edge of Seventeen,” with Makino committed to providing an honest examination of the female experience, with the main character handling the pressures of home and hallway interactions with a thin grasp on her emotional health. “Inbetween Girl” is intimate and humane, and it’s also absolutely wonderful, with Makino making an effort to create a layered, knowing study of deep feelings without giving into the temptation of melodrama.

Angie (Emma Galbraith) is a teenager making her way through school, dealing with a crush on popular boy Liam (William Magnuson), with the pair becoming friends, even as he dates Sheryl (Emily Garrett), a highly desired classmate. Angie is overwhelmed by her parents and their newly divorced lives, watching her father make a fresh start with a new wife and stepdaughter, leaving her open to Liam’s suggestions when he wants to have sex with her. They begin a physical relationship, but confusion soon arrives, with Angie also getting to know Sheryl, put in the middle of an uncomfortable situation she has difficulty managing.

“Inbetween Girl” delivers a rounded depiction of Angie, who’s a regular girl from Texas dealing with the disintegration of her home life, with her Chinese father restarting his life and culture with another family. Angie’s a skilled artist to puts her life into illustrations, also dealing with her mother and their broken lines of communication. And there’s Liam, who offers himself as a friendly, flirty face, but wants more from Angie, who’s willing to engage in a sexual relationship with the boy, only to understand all the complications that come with it. “Inbetween Girl” gets in close with the lead character, with Galbraith offering strong, emotive work as the adolescent in distress, while Makino carefully examines the subtleties of pain and excitement facing Angie as she encounters a sudden rush of new experiences.

Inbetween Girl Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation deals with a softer, HD-shot look for "Inbetween Girl," which handles skin surfaces adequately. Decorative elements and artwork are open for study, and distances around neighborhoods are dimensional. Colors are satisfactory, securing primaries on clothing and displays of art, while skin tones are natural. Delineation is acceptable. Periodic compression issues are mild but noticeable.

Inbetween Girl Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix offers clear dialogue exchanges, handling louder confrontations and softer emotional moments with crispness and balance. Scoring supports with clean instrumentation, delivering a milder surround presence. Atmospherics are also circular at times, capturing school and community activity. Low-end isn't challenged.

Inbetween Girl Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Cast & Crew Q&A (43:18, HD) is a video conference discussion of "Inbetween Girl" hosted by the Austin Film Society, featuring writer/director Mei Makino, cinematographer Ivy Chiu, editor Connor Pickens, producer Matt Stryker, illustrator Larissa Akhmetova, and actors Emma Galbraith, William Magnuson, and Emily Garrett.

• Deleted Scenes (2:53, HD) are offered.

• Actor Auditions (21:19, HD) take a look at the early stages of "Inbetween Girl" development, featuring clips of Emma Galbraith, KaiChow Lai, Liz Waters, Kelsey Buckley, William Magnuson, ShanShan Jin, Thanh Phuong Bui, and Emily Garrett.

• And a Trailer (2:14, HD) is included.

Inbetween Girl Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

"Inbetween Girl" is thoughtful, funny, and authentic about Angie's journey, getting to the core of her distress as she's left behind by some, also encountering a new appreciation of a perceived enemy in Sheryl, which complicates her already threadbare relationship with Liam. Makino doesn't deny hostile actions, but she's not interested in a simple study of teen crisis, working hard to offer a dimensional understanding of motivations, even if they aren't respectful. "Inbetween Girl" really shines as a coming-of-age story, with the delicate nature of teen heartbreak and exploration handled superbly by Makino, who makes a striking impression with her first feature, presenting an intelligent, genuine detailing of the maturation process.