A peek into the complexities and camaraderie of female friendship is seen through the eyes of Lina Suh in her directorial debut Meeting You, Meeting Me. Selected to screen at the 2024 CAAMFest, this buddy dramedy tells the story of an unlikely friendship that develops between two women. Call it fate or call it luck, the women happen to enter each other’s lives when each needs companionship most. They soon discover that, despite their differences, they’ve each made a true friend for life.

Sisterhood of the Traveling Backpack

Twenty-something-year-old Sav (Annika Foster) arrives at a house in the suburbs to pick up a travel backpack that she bought from an online marketplace. This is where she meets the seller, Simone (Sam Yim). Simone is a newly single woman who is still reeling from the effects of a divorce, and eager to get rid of the belongings that remind her of her ex-husband. Sav’s bubbly personality and Simone’s more morose demeanor seem like oil and water, but despite their differences, they form a sincere connection rather quickly.

After an unexpected event causes Sav to miss her transport to the airport, Simone seemingly reaches out of her comfort zone and invites Sav to stay with her until she has to leave to board an international flight. Over the next 12 or so hours, Sav and Simone experience the highs and lows of a budding friendship.

Relationship Strength isn’t Measured by Length

Layered with flashbacks and time-jumping, Meeting You, Meeting Me is an honest portrait of two women at similar stages of their life, both figuring it out together. The phrase “opposites attract” seems appropriate here, although the more time we spend with Sav and Simone, the more obvious it is that they are much more similar than initially assumed. Yet, the sisterhood bond they quickly establish is tested when a misunderstanding threatens to derail their friendship. Using empathy as a vehicle for understanding both characters’ actions and reactions, director Lina Suh shows how communication is the bedrock of any solid relationship.

The film touches upon the butterfly effect, in that the world is deeply interconnected, as well as the theme of meeting and moving on. The NEON film Robot Dreams also comes to mind when discussing how one person’s influence can change the trajectory of your life forever. Sometimes the most impactful relationships don’t necessarily have the most history.

Takeaway

Produced by Sharon Park, Meeting You, Meeting Me is a love letter to friendship, sisterhood, and the bonds made between like-minded women. The film ends with a special dedication from the director, which summarizes the film’s ethos in one succinct statement: “For all the friends and sisters who carry us through our lives”.