Meeting You, Meeting Me

Meeting You, Meeting me is a touching film about two women(American and South Korean) coming from opposing sides of life who can see each other's blind spots, but have the discomfort of facing from them. In an era where people are obsessed with their own echo chambers, it is a poignant reminder that different views can solve issues we never knew that we had.

Meeting You, Meeting Me has done a fantastic job peeling the layers of complex and guarded characters only to reveal none of us know ourselves nearly as much as we might think and may need others to point out aspects for us to even begin to tackle them.

Through her own film, has Lina Suh found Suh Lina?

In an era increasingly dominated by spectacle, Meeting You, Meeting Me offers a refreshing return to cinema's quieter virtues. Directed with restraint and remarkable sensitivity, the film unfolds as a contemplative exploration of human connection-anchored by breathtaking cinematography and performances of unusual emotional depth.

Visually, the film is a masterclass in atmospheric storytelling. The cinematography, rich in texture and tone, does more than frame the action-it elevates it. Each shot is carefully composed, using natural light and deliberate stillness to draw the viewer inward. The camera lingers not for indulgence, but for resonance, allowing the weight of a moment to settle without rush. There is an elegance here that recalls the work of Terrence Malick, yet it feels wholly its own.

The performances are equally compelling. The lead actors navigate their roles with profound subtlety, revealing layers of vulnerability through glances, silences, and gesture rather than exposition. Their characters evolve not through dramatic transformation, but through the slow accumulation of feeling-an approach that demands patience and rewards it richly.

Lina Suh's feature directorial debut "Meeting Me Meeting You" is a beautiful exploration of the kind of human connection that can unfold from a seemingly mundane transaction.

At its heart is the chance encounter between two seemingly opposite women, a modern day odd couple - Sav, a free-spirited, canceled social media personality seeking escape through travel, and Simone, a structured Korean-American divorce attorney deeply rooted in her immigrant upbringing. What begins as a simple backpack transaction transforms into an intimate evening of revelations, as Suh crafts a narrative that beautifully captures how strangers can become catalysts for profound personal change.

The structure -- primarily set in Simone's suburban home -- creates the kind of intimate canvas where dialogue can become the true star, and Suh's exceptional writing shines through. The characters' conversations flow with natural authenticity while revealing layers of complexity underneath.

Beyond its compelling character work, Suh's film offers a nuanced exploration of cultural identity in America. Through these two women - one shaped by California's free-wheeling ethos, the other by the dual influences of Korean heritage and American assimilation - the film speaks volumes about different female experiences in contemporary society. Yet Suh never reduces her characters to mere cultural mouthpieces; instead, she reveals how their backgrounds have shaped distinct worldviews while illuminating their universal human desires for connection, understanding and authenticity.

"Meeting Me Meeting You" is that rare film that entertains deeply while quietly expanding our understanding of both ourselves and others.

Have you ever made a brand-new friend in just one day? That's the premise of this wonderful and thought provoking film, where two strangers' life paths collide at just the moment when they both most needed a friend.

Savanna and Simone come from very different backgrounds and are on very different life trajectories but, with 12 hours to kill before Savanna's flight to an exotic destination, they have some time to kill and quickly discover an unexpected bond in the confusing complexity of their current life situations.

The embryonic friendship begins as a blank slate and this allows both characters to confront each other with a searing honesty that we could all do with sometimes.

The writing is sharp and realistic and, like any true relationship worth fighting for, there are some tests to get through as these two unexpected kindred spirits peel away the layers of each other's past & present.

And it turns out that Sav & Simone have some profound lessons for each other. The two not only meet and bond, they also change each other's perspective on life, and perhaps even set each other free a little.

Intriguingly, the film was shot before and after lockdown and the extra production time allowed for the beginning and ending of the film to be re-written - in a way that adds a powerful resonance to the story as the years pass by, and a longer testament to the friendship emerges.

This film will stay with you long after you have watched it. Highly recommended.

I recently watched "Meeting You, Meeting Me" at the Beloit International Film Festival, and was struck by how effortlessly the filmmakers brought the story to life. Telling a compelling narrative without relying on car chases, guns, or explicit erotica is no small feat, yet they achieved it with grace and finesse. The story is solid, the cast is superb, and the direction is commendable!

Despite being a film about loneliness, it leaves you feeling anything but alone. There is a quiet poetry to it-an undercurrent of peace and acceptance-that isn't overt or preachy but subtly woven throughout. When the credits roll, you're left emotionally reenergized, perhaps even inspired to reach out to a loved one you've been neglecting for some time, just to say hello.

I highly recommend the film. It's a must-see!