Left Handed Girl tells the story of 5-year-old I-Jing as her mother, Shu-fen and older sister, I-Ann moves back to Taipei to connect with family that are in new predicaments in life. The film follows them as they set up a noodle stand in a Taipei Night Market to support themselves but also sees that their financial situation is continually threatening by modern forces, putting all three women in situations that they never foresaw themselves in.
The characters are entertaining and interesting as all have their own problems to deal with and, sometimes, they intersect. Girl is also an interesting look from this director at the family dynamic, particularly in Taiwan, and how the broken people are shamed and left on the outskirts in the face of a seemingly structured and proper family systems. That contrast is what really drives the drama of Left-Handed Girl, along with the cute and interesting lessons that the girl gets.
The film also has an interesting contrast of ‘traditionalism versus new thinking’ in Taiwan (or Chinese culture in general) that plays out in this film. The iPhone style very much fits this very urban, ‘run and gun’ on-the-ground style of filmmaking. It also helps that the camera follow I-Jing as she goes through the tight and cramped environments. (Most notably, this is shown in the Taiwanese night market.)
All of the performances from the actors are great. The film also gets us to root for each of them in their own stories that leads to a very memorable climax where the drama escalates. This finale highlights the value that men are given in Chinese society and how neglected women are. This is a theme that is prominent throughout the film and, again, contrasts with the innocent view of I-Jing. Left-Handed Girl is a charming and very well done film with a wonderfully whimsical theme. Go see it!
Left-Handed Girl is playing at TIFF ’25. For more information, click here.
