The Good Half (2023) is a heartfelt drama about a young man named Nick, who returns to his hometown for his mother’s funeral and must confront his troubled past and strained family relationships.
The movie starts with Nick, a 30-something writer living in Los Angeles, feeling lost and disconnected from his family. He has been avoiding going home for years due to a complicated relationship with his mother and father. However, when his mother, Lily, suddenly passes away, Nick has no choice but to return to Cleveland, where he grew up.
As soon as he arrives, he feels out of place and uncomfortable. His family, including his father, Robert, and his sister, Lauren, are grieving in their own ways, and there’s tension in the air. Nick feels guilty for being away for so long and not having a better relationship with his mother when she was alive. He also feels frustrated by how his father and sister are handling their grief.
While preparing for the funeral, Nick meets a friendly bartender named Emily, who quickly becomes his confidante. Emily listens to Nick’s stories about his family and his regrets, helping him see things from a different perspective. She encourages him to face his emotions and deal with his unresolved issues with his family.
As the days go by, Nick begins to remember happier times with his mother and slowly starts to reconnect with his family. He learns that his mother, Lily, always tried to bring the family together, even when things were tough. He starts to see that his father, Robert, is also struggling with guilt and sadness, and that his sister, Lauren, feels abandoned by him.
Through heartfelt conversations and emotional moments, Nick begins to heal and understand his family better. He realizes that he has been focusing on the negative aspects of his relationship with his mother and ignoring the good memories they shared—the “good half” of their relationship. He decides to let go of his anger and regrets and instead hold on to the love his mother gave him.
By the end of the movie, Nick reconciles with his father and sister, accepting their different ways of grieving. He decides to stay in Cleveland a bit longer, realizing that reconnecting with his roots and his family is what he truly needs. With Emily’s support, he starts to find peace and a new sense of purpose, feeling more hopeful about the future.
The Good Half (2023) is a moving story about family, forgiveness, and finding the good in difficult times. It shows that even in the darkest moments, there is always a chance to heal and grow by embracing the love that remains.
