Foreign Letters

In 1982, Ellie Ellie leaves Israel and follows her family to the United States after a traumatic event in the Lebanon War, when her uncle was killed by friendly fire. The move is framed by a deep homesickness and a sense of protest from her parents, who depart as a deliberate stand against what happened. Back home, Ellie clings to memories of her best friend in Israel, sharing small joys—like a new television and thrift-store finds—while she grapples with the stubborn obstacle of not speaking English fluently.

At school, Ellie enters sixth grade with a personal mission to master the language. She signs up for a special class to practice speaking and writing, and buys a typewriter to sharpen her newly learned skills. The adjustment is rough and unkind moments pierce her everyday life: a popular girl mocks her for wearing a pendant with Hebrew letters, looking down on her in a way that stingingly highlights her otherness. In the midst of this social heat, Ellie reaches out to the other outsider in class, Thuy a Vietnamese girl who has fled her homeland after the war and now shares a cramped apartment with family. Thuy is shy and keeps to herself, telling stories of a strict father who expects hard work and constant study—yet she remains quietly brave.

Ellie soon finds herself taking the lead in their growing friendship, and what begins as lunchtime chats blossoms into a series of shared adventures: visiting each other’s homes, skating, wandering through forests, and even the playful thrill of prank calls. The two outsiders form a bond that feels like a lifeline, with Ellie guiding the pair through moments of fear, curiosity, and small triumphs as they navigate a new country together.

As Ellie opens up about her heart, she also navigates crushes on two boys, a detail that pushes Thuy to reveal her own feelings—though it takes a deliberate effort and a bit of ritual to coax the truth from her. To seal the trust and promise between them, Ellie writes a contract that becomes a symbol of their commitment: they will spend recess together every day, always call one another back, and—forever hopeful—if their futures align, they’ll live next door to each other or in the same house, if their husbands agree. The contract marks a bright, almost whimsical dream of lasting friendship.

Yet the high hopes surrounding their alliance soon encounter friction. The bond that once felt unbreakable begins to strain as expectations collide with reality, forcing Ellie to confront a pivotal choice: should she reach out to Thuy and try to repair the connection, or let the moment pass and move forward on her own terms? The story follows Ellie through this crossroads, balancing memories of home with the start of a new life, and exploring how loyalty, language, and shared moments can sustain a friendship across distance, culture, and time.

Ellie’s family anchors her journey—Ellie faces the challenge with the support and occasional friction of her parents, while Ellie’s mother and Ellie’s Dad each play a role in how she sees the world expanding beyond what she knew. The evolving relationship with Thuy is at the heart of the film, a testament to how two young outsiders can build a bond that teaches them about resilience, trust, and what it means to grow up in two very different places at once.

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 06:47