by Jake Bourgeois, Contributing Writer
If you’re left-handed, certain things are a given. Like, you are contractually obligated to do a Leo pointing GIF anytime you notice a character in TV and movies that also happens to be a southpaw.
Well, this was at least the case in my house growing up.
However, in other cultures (and other homes), that’s not always the case. Enter, Left-Handed Girl, the story of a single mother, Shu-Fen (Janel Tsai), and her two daughters moving to Taipei to open a night market stall and the challenges of the complicated family dynamics that come along with that. The title comes from the fact that our main character, five-year-old I-Jing (Nina Ye), is told by her grandfather (Akio Chen) that she shouldn’t do things with her left hand because the left hand does the devil’s work — just one of the many wonderful aspects of this family’s dynamic.
Having premiered at Cannes, the movie is Shih-Ching Tsou’s first solo directing feature, having produced a handful of Sean Baker’s other projects. Baker co-writes the film along with Tsou, along with taking on editing duties. The duo also co-wrote and co-directed Take Out together. Having not seen the previous film they worked on together, and only having seen a handful of Baker’s films, it feels like it fits in his catalogue. Visually, there’s a handheld style that helps it feel intimate.
Carried by an adorable child lead, it has a strong vibe of The Florida Project. Outside of the more innocent eyes of a kid, the adult characters are in some more complex situations. Her mother can’t help but bail out the father of her oldest daughter, despite the repercussions it has on their finances, and even the move to Taipei puts her back in close proximity of the rest of her family, who are just terrible people (more on that in just a second). The older sister (Shih-Yuan Ma) can’t help but make terrible decisions, working at a shady stand and getting involved with her employer, who is an absolute scumbag. Finally, both the grandparents straight up suck. As previously explained, the grandfather can’t help but push outdated stereotypes on his young granddaughter, to her detriment, and the grandmother (Xin-Yan Chao) is running an underground business providing fake passports.
Much like Willem Dafoe steals the show as the hotel manager in The Florida Project, Teng-Hui Huang plays Johnny, a charismatic fellow night market shop owner. Are his series of products cheap and low quality? Sure, but he’s kind and funny to our protagonists, which makes him a ray of sunshine in a film littered with bad actors.
Much like the poverty of the residents of the hotel stands in stark contrast to the Happiest Place on Earth, Left-Handed Girl contrasts the fun and bright and shining lights of the Taipei market and a whimsical score with the hardships the adult characters are having to deal with. Though there are some more general warm and good feelings to be had here.
Things get messy and melodramatic as the various secrets come to a head by the time things are over. It takes you on a roller coaster of emotions as you find yourself rooting for this family to turn things around for the better.
Left-Handed Girl is a debut feature that manages not only to evoke emotion, but give you a real sense of place.
Rating: Loved It
Left-Handed Girl is currently streaming on Netflix
You can read more from Jake Bourgeois, and follow him on Bluesky and Letterboxd