A One Mann’s Movies review of “Left-Handed Girl” (From the 2025 London Film Festival). (2025, 4*, 15).
Another of the films that I really enjoyed at the LFF, “Left-Handed Girl” is now available to stream on Netflix and comes highly recommended.
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Presumably not one that will benefit from a Chinese release (!), “Left-Handed Girl” is the debut film from American-Taiwanese director Shih-Ching Tsou and is co-written by Sean Baker, currently riding on a high from his Oscar-winning “Anora“. (Presumably Baker insisted on the inclusion of the sex scenes!)
I was going to rate this one a 3.5, but it has actually stayed with me for a few days since seeing it, so I’ve upped the rating a half point.
One Mann’s Movies Rating:
Plot:
A single mother and her two daughters relocate to Taipei to open a night market stall, each navigating the challenges of adapting to their new environment while striving to maintain family unity.
Certification:
UK: 15; US: R. (From the BBFC web site: “Strong language, sex.)
Talent:
Starring: Janel Tsai, Nina Ye, Shih-Yuan Ma, Blaire Chang, Teng-Hung Hsia, Akio Chen.
Directed by: Shih-Ching Tsou.
Written by: Sean Baker & Shih-Ching Tsou.
Running Time: 1h 48m.
Summary:
Positives:
- The street-life of a bustling Taipei is vividly brought to life.
- Great acting from the three female leads.
- An intriguing story that carries a third-reel twist I didn’t see coming.
Negatives:
- The finale veered slightly into overly ‘EastEnders-like’ melodrama for me.
Full Review of “Left-Handed Girl”:
A winning performance from Nina Ye.
Effortlessly carrying the movie is the 9-year old Nina Ye as I-Jing who has an amazing confidence and composure in front of the camera.
The other supporting cast, particularly Janel Tsai as the mother Shu-fen and Shih-Yuan Ma as the sexually provocative teen I-Ann, give solid performances.
The vibrant streets of Taipei.
In a previous life, I was lucky enough to go on a business trip to Taipei, even eating in the infamous ‘Snake Alley’ (another story for another time!). I can confirm that even back in 2002, the city was a colourful and vibrant as portrayed in this movie. Some terrific camera-work from Ko-Chin Chen and Tzu-Hao Kao – presumably precariously perched on the back of another scooter! – delivers real dynamism to the sequences where I-Ann takes I-Jing to and from school, the 5-year-old perched precariously on the front of the scooter.
These sequences also give more depth to the background of I-Ann, with her impetuous and sometimes dangerous actions. I-Ann works as a temptress to attract the customers to the Betelnut stand of her boss Johnny (Brando Huang). I-Ann berates the newbie girl in the stand for dressing too conservatively: something she definitely makes up for later! Johnny is a married guy who I-Ann shamelessly gives additional services to under the counter.
Some interesting society dynamics.
Unlike many of her peers, I-Ann has not progressed to college, instead working at her mum’s noodle shack and the Betelnut stand. But she does run into some old school friends of hers, who now immediately look down on her from their lofty heights. Many talk about having changed their names, which I didn’t understand: was this perhaps to help them get into universities on the Chinese mainland?
Meanwhile, I-Jing seems to have an enormous amount of freedom to run around the streets on her own that will have UK parents twitching in their seats! But she does also spend time with her Grandpa (Akio Chen) who “doesn’t shower and smells like stinky tofu” and her Grandma (Xin-Yan Chao) who performs much wheeling and dealing – smuggling and potentially people-smuggling – that is clearly very much against the law.
It is the very traditional Grandpa who convinces the left-handed young girl that she MUST always use her right hand and that the left hand is “doing the devil’s work”: something she takes a little too seriously!
A Meerkat Movie*!
I can only note two fictional feature films featuring meerkats – “The Lion King” films of course and 2010’s “Animals United” – and both of these are based on animations. That stops here, for “Left Handed Girl” features a live pet meerkat called GooGoo. Only I wouldn’t get too attached to it! (Given the lack of presence in movies, it’s probably not worth me setting up a web site called doesthemeerkatdie.com!)
(* For non-UK readers, Meerkat Movies is a famous promotional two-for-one cinema ticket brand run by the insurance comparison site comparethemarket.com).
A birthday party from hell.
The film culminates with a 60th birthday party for the Grandma that progressively descends into mayhem. There are some dramatic moments in this section and a well-delivered twist I didn’t see coming. However, in general I found this section of the film to be a little bit over the top and melodramatic. But not enough to dent my overall view of the film.
Summary Thoughts:
A warm-hearted and colourful drama set in a very different world from my own, but containing many of the same drivers and motivations. You can see the influence of Sean Baker in some aspects of the story. This one is well worth a watch.
Tickets for the London Film Festival showings on 15th and 17th October are currently sold out, but here is the booking web site to check for returns or other showings.
Where to watch?
Trailer:
The trailer is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rXnpfzpk8s
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