Left-Handed Girl is Taiwanese director Shih-Ching Tsou’s brilliant solo debut, a vivid and heartfelt glimpse into life in Taipei, seen through the eyes of a small, poor family who have recently arrived in the city. The story focuses on three main characters: single mother Shu-fen (played by Janel Tsai), who runs a noodle stall in one of Taipei’s night markets to try to provide for her two daughters, defiant 20-year-old I-Ann (Shih-Yuan Ma) and inquisitive five-year-old I-Jing (Nina Ye).
All three of them are flawed in some way: Shu-fen struggles to make ends meet, wrestling with depression and debt, while balancing her duties as a mother and provider. I-Ann is rude, moody, and does not seem to learn from her mistakes, while little I-Jing deals with confusion, shame, and a temptation towards petty theft after she misunderstands her grandfather’s old superstitions about how using her left hand is the mark of the devil. These three characters are brought to life by the incredibly authentic and lived-in performances of the lead cast, two of which are first-time actors. All three are wonderful in this film, utterly captivating and well-realized.
Left-Handed Girl is defined by its deep sense of authenticity. It almost feels like a documentary at times, capturing unique aspects of Taiwanese culture. Shot on location using an iPhone, the images on screen feel raw and real. In fact, it is fun to notice a few moments where the extras are obviously regular people: they will occasionally make eye contact with the camera and one extra even throws up a peace sign as the camera goes by, making the film feel even more like a true story.
The stripped-down shooting style, the naturalistic performances, and the banquet speech climax, complete with shocking revelations and tense family dynamics, may make this film feel like Dogme 95 by way of Taiwan. However, below the surface, this film has a surprising depth of warmth and heart. Here, the reveals aren’t just meant to shock or disturb; they emerge naturally from who the characters are, and expose a new level of depth and humanity in the story.
The film is produced, edited, and co-written by Sean Baker, a longtime collaborator of Shih-Ching Tsou. For more than 20 years, Tsou has filled the roles of producer, costume designer, co-writer, and co-director on many of Baker’s films, including Take-Out (on which Tsou was also a co-director), Florida Project, and the Oscar-winning hit Anora. Left-Handed Girl is reminiscent of Baker’s work in its emotional lyricism, its sense of capturing reality on film, and exploring the world through the eyes of children and social outcasts.
Brilliant and full of life, Left-Handed Girl will delight fans of Taiwanese New Cinema, Sean Baker, and heartfelt female-centered dramas. Perhaps destined to be a global independent hit, it is one of the best films of the year.
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Left-Handed Girl (Mandarin Chinese: 左撇子女孩)—Taiwan, France, USA, UK. Dialog in Mandarin Chinese. Directed by Shih-Ching Tsou. Running time 1 hour 49 min. First released May 15, 2025 at the Cannes Film Festival. Starring Janel Tsai, Shih-Yuan Ma, Nina Ye.
This article is part of Cinema Escapist’s dedicated coverage of the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival.