Foreign Letters

In 1982, Ellie experiences the trauma of the Lebanon War when her uncle is killed by friendly fire. The event leaves a deep mark on her and her family. In response, the parents decide to leave Israel and move the family to the United States as a form of protest and escape.

The family relocates to the United States, seeking a fresh start amid lingering memories of home. Ellie clings to memories of Israel while her parents process the upheaval and the reasons behind their move. The transition highlights the sense of displacement that threads through her early years in a new country.

Ellie feels homesick for Israel and struggles to adjust to a different culture. Her parents express a quiet protest through their choices, underscoring the tension between loyalty to their past and hope for a better future. The atmosphere at home is charged with memory and a desire to belong.

Ellie grips with not speaking English fluently, which isolates her at first. She endures miscommunications and the feeling of being an outsider while adjusting to a new school culture. The struggle fuels her determination to master the language.

At school, Ellie signs up for a special class to practice speaking and writing English. She seeks structured help and support from teachers and peers as she navigates a new academic system. The class becomes a turning point in her confidence and ability to communicate.

To accelerate her learning, Ellie buys a typewriter and practices daily. The device becomes a tangible symbol of her effort to bridge two worlds. Small acts like typing homework bring small joys and a sense of agency.

A popular girl mocks Ellie for wearing a pendant with Hebrew letters, a moment that stings and highlights her perceived otherness. The incident sharpens the social heat of school and tests Ellie’s resolve. She learns to navigate prejudice while staying true to her memories.

Ellie reaches out to Thuy, the other outsider in class, who has fled her homeland after the war and now shares a crowded apartment with family. Thuy is shy but brave, recounting stories of a strict father who values hard work and study. A fragile connection begins to form between them.

What starts as lunchtime chats grows into a series of shared adventures: visiting each other’s homes, skating, wandering through forests, and playful prank calls. The bond between Ellie and Thuy becomes a lifeline that helps them navigate fear, curiosity, and small triumphs. Their outsider status deepens their reliance on each other.

Ellie experiences crushes on two boys, a detail that prompts Thuy to reveal her own feelings. The moment requires trust and careful conversation, deepening their emotional bond. The exchange becomes a turning point in how openly they share their lives.

Ellie writes a contract that pledges they will spend recess together every day, always call one another back, and, if possible, live next door in the future. The contract becomes a bright, whimsical symbol of their lasting friendship and mutual commitment.

The bond begins to strain as expectations collide with reality, forcing Ellie to consider whether to repair the friendship or move forward on her own terms. The tension tests loyalty and the resilience of two outsiders navigating a new culture. They must decide how to balance memory, language, and growing apart.

Ellie faces a pivotal choice about whether to reach out to Thuy and try to repair the friendship or to honor her own path forward. The decision weighs heavily against the backdrop of two homes and two cultures. The moment captures the fragility of first friendships when distance and time intervene.

Ellie’s family remains a steady pillar as she learns to grow across two very different places. Her parents’ perspectives and support shape how she sees the world expanding beyond what she knew. The evolving dynamic with Thuy remains central to her sense of belonging.

The story centers on resilience and trust as Ellie learns to bridge memory and new experiences. The friendship with Thuy endures as a reminder that belonging can stretch across distance and time. The film closes on a note of hope for a life lived between Israel and the United States.