| Left-Handed Girl | |
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| Mandarin | 左撇子女孩 |
| Directed by | Shih-Ching Tsou |
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| Edited by | Sean Baker |
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Running time | 109 minutes[1] |
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Left-Handed Girl (Chinese: 左撇子女孩) is a 2025 drama film, co-written, co-produced, and directed by Shih-Ching Tsou. It stars Janel Tsai, Ma Shih-Yuan, Nina Ye, Brando Huang, Akio Chen and Xin-Yan Chao. Sean Baker serves as co-writer, co-producer, and editor.
The film had its world premiere at the Critics' Week section of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on May 15. It was released theatrically in France on September 17, 2025 and in the United States in a limited release on November 14, before streaming on Netflix on November 28. It was selected as the Taiwanese entry for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards,[2] making the December shortlist.[3]
Plot
A single mother, Shu-Fen moves with her two daughters—innocent 5-year-old I-Jing and surly, university-aged I-Ann—to Taipei to start a noodle stand at a night market, while I-Ann works at a betel nut stand as a betel nut beauty to earn money. After discovering that her estranged husband (who abandoned the family a decade earlier) is terminally ill, Shu-Fen puts herself further into debt to pay for his medical bills and funeral, which disgusts I-Ann and drives a further wedge between mother and daughter as Shu-Fen becomes unable to pay rent for the noodle stand. Meanwhile, reuniting with her grandparents Wen-Xong Chen and Xue-Mei Wu, the left-handed I-Jing is informed by her old-fashioned grandfather that the left hand is "the devil's hand" and that she is forbidden from using it in his home. Misinterpreting the superstition, I-Jing believes that she is not responsible for any bad behavior done using her left hand, and begins to shoplift from the other market stands.
When I-Ann is invited to a party at a motel with an old local classmate, it is revealed that she had been a straight-A student and the most popular girl on campus, but had to drop out of high school for reasons I-Ann claims were financial. After others at the party mock her with crude sexual advances, she storms out. I-Ann is also in a sexual relationship with her boss, A-Ming, whose wife eventually discovers the relationship and confronts I-Ann at work. I-Ann reveals she is pregnant with A-Ming's baby and quits.
I-Jing, while playing with the pet meerkat willed to the family by Shu-Fen's deceased husband, throws a ball with her left hand, leading to the meerkat falling off the apartment balcony and dying. Distressed and guilty, I-Jing blames "the devil's hand." Later, Shu-Fen visits her mother's home to beg for money, but Xue-Mei refuses. Xue-Mei is secretly involved in a black-market illegal-immigration operation, and I-Jing, oblivious to the crimes but aware that the passports are valuable, steals them from Xue-Mei's home as the women argue, inadvertently saving Xue-Mei from a later raid by immigration agents. When I-Jing attempts to pawn the passports, the shop owner contacts the family home, and I-Ann collects her and learns of I-Jing's belief in her "devil hand" and shoplifting. I-Ann convinces I-Jing that the superstition is false, assures that the meerkat's death was an accident, and takes I-Jing to return the stolen items and atone. As thanks for I-Jing's actions involving the passports, Xue-Mei gifts Shu-Fen the money to pay for the noodle stand.
The family attends a birthday banquet for Xue-Mei's sixtieth birthday. A-Ming, who has been attempting to contact I-Ann without success, arrives with his wife after deducing her location, and his wife loudly reveals I-Ann's affair and pregnancy in front of the scandalized extended family, insisting that they will pay for the baby if it is a male. I-Ann retorts that she aborted the child, leading to a fight with Shu-Fen, who is ashamed of I-Ann's behavior and failure to take responsibility. The couple is thrown out, but I-Ann drinks heavily, and eventually reveals their family secret: I-Jing is her own daughter, not Shu-Fen's, and Shu-Fen had covered up the truth in order to give her daughter a better chance at marital prospects. Xue-Mei is outraged, but the moment is cathartic for Shu-Fen and I-Ann.
The film ends with I-Ann choosing to work at the noodle stand with her family, and she and I-Jing beginning a foundation of their relationship as mother and daughter.
Cast
- Janel Tsai as Shu-Fen
- Ma Shih-Yuan as I-Ann
- Nina Ye as I-Jing
- Brando Huang as Johnny
- Akio Chen as Wen-Xong Chen
- Xin-Yan Chao as Xue-Mei Wu
- Teng-Hung Hsia as A-Ming
Production
The script for the film was written by Shih-Ching Tsou and Sean Baker in 2010.[4] In November 2012, Baker revealed the project, with Shih-Ching Tsou set to direct, however, the film was facing difficulty to secure financing.[5]
Principal photography began in July 2022.[6] By February 2025, the film was nearing the end of post-production.[7] The film was shot using an iPhone.[8]
Release
Left-Handed Girl had its world premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival in the Critics' Week section where it won the Gan Foundation Award for Distribution.[9][10] In May 2025, Netflix acquired rights to the film for the world excluding the Baltics, the Benelux, Greece, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, France, Japan, South Korea, Spain, Scandinavia, Poland and Taiwan.[11] It also screened in the Competition section of the 30th Busan International Film Festival on September 22, 2025 for 'Bosan Awards',[12] the 'Official Section' of the 70th Valladolid International Film Festival,[13] the 69th BFI London Film Festival on October 15, 2025,[14] and the 20th Rome Film Festival,[15] where it won Best Film.[16]
It was released in the United States in a limited release on November 14, 2025, before it began streaming on Netflix on November 28, 2025.[17]
In August 2025, Taiwan's Ministry of Culture submitted Left-Handed Girl to compete for the Academy Award for Best International Feature category at the 98th Academy Awards.[18]
Reception
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 98% of 96 critics' reviews are positive. The website's consensus reads: "A warm tour through Taipei distinguished by its lived-in cultural specificity and relatable family dynamics, Left-Handed Girl is a winning first solo feature from writer-director Shih-Ching Tsou."[19] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 77 out of 100, based on 18 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[20]
Accolades
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cannes Film Festival | May 24, 2025 | Critics' Week Grand Prix | Shih-Ching Tsou | Nominated | [21] |
| Gan Foundation Award for Distribution | Won | ||||
| Zurich Film Festival | October 4, 2025 | Golden Eye Feature Film Competition – Special Mention | Left-Handed Girl | Won | [22] |
| Montclair Film Festival | October 19, 2025 | Breakthrough Director | Shih-Ching Tsou | Honored | [23] |
| Rome Film Festival | October 26, 2025 | Progressive Cinema Competition – Best Film | Left-Handed Girl | Won | [16] |
| Valladolid International Film Festival | November 1, 2025 | Golden Spike | Left-Handed Girl | Nominated | [24] |
| Stockholm International Film Festival | November 14, 2025 | Best Actress | Ma Shih-Yuan | Won | [25] |
| Asian World Film Festival | November 20, 2025 | Snow Leopard Award for Rising Star | Nina Ye | Won | [26] |
| Snow Leopard Audience Award | Left-Handed Girl | Won | |||
| Golden Horse Awards | November 22, 2025 | Best Narrative Feature | Left-Handed Girl | Nominated | [27] [28] |
| Best Supporting Actor | Brando Huang | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting Actress | Janel Tsai | Nominated | |||
| Nina Ye | Nominated | ||||
| Best Original Screenplay | Shih-Ching Tsou, Sean Baker | Nominated | |||
| Best New Director | Shih-Ching Tsou | Nominated | |||
| Best New Performer | Shih-Yuan Ma | Won | |||
| Best Film Editing | Sean Baker | Nominated | |||
| Best Cinematography | Chen Ko-chin, Kao Tzu-hao | Nominated | |||
| Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association | December 7, 2025 | Best Foreign Language Film | Left-Handed Girl | Nominated | [29] |
| Best Youth Performance | Nina Ye | Nominated | |||
| San Diego Film Critics Society | December 15, 2025 | Best Foreign Language Film | Left-Handed Girl | Nominated | [30] |
| Best Youth Performance | Nina Ye | Nominated | |||
| Las Vegas Film Critics Society | December 19, 2025 | Best International Film | Left-Handed Girl | Nominated | [31] |
| Best Female Youth Performance | Nina Ye | Won | |||
| Critics' Choice Movie Awards | January 4, 2026 | Best Foreign Language Film | Left-Handed Girl | Nominated | [32] |
| Best Young Performer | Nina Ye | Nominated |
See also
- List of submissions to the 98th Academy Awards for Best International Feature Film
- List of Taiwanese submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film
References
- ^ "Left-Handed Girl (15)". British Board of Film Classification. November 4, 2025. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
- ^ Ramachandran, Naman (August 28, 2025). "Taiwan Selects 'Left-Handed Girl' as Oscar Submission". Variety. Retrieved August 28, 2025.
- ^ Davis, Clayton (December 16, 2025). "Oscars Shortlists Announced in 12 Categories: 'Sinners' and 'Wicked: For Good' Lead, 'Sirât' Gets Strong Showing". Variety. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
- ^ Ahmed, Zak (November 25, 2025). "'Left-Handed Girl' Director Shih-Ching Tsou Shares Her Love For Taiwan and Family". Feature First. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
- ^ Lavalee, Eric (November 8, 2012). "IONCINEPHILE of the Month: Sean Baker". IonCinema. Retrieved April 14, 2025.
- ^ Lavalee, Eric (July 11, 2022). "Street…Food for Thought: Shih-Ching Tsou Begins Production on "Left-Handed Girl"". IonCinema. Retrieved April 14, 2025.
- ^ Whipp, Glenn (February 13, 2025). "Director Sean Baker doesn't know he's the front-runner with 'Anora'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 14, 2025.
- ^ "Sean Baker". Metrograph. October 16, 2024. Retrieved April 14, 2025.
- ^ Goodfellow, Melanie (April 14, 2025). "Cannes Critics' Week Unveils 2025 Selection – Full List & Details". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 14, 2025.
- ^ Balaga, Marta (May 21, 2025). "Cannes Critics' Week Awards Ratchapoom Boonbunchachoke's 'A Useful Ghost'". Variety. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (June 3, 2025). "Netflix Takes A Bulk Of The World On Shih-Ching Tsou's Cannes Movie 'Left-Handed Girl'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 3, 2025.
- ^ Shackleton, Liz (August 26, 2025). "Busan Film Festival Unveils Inaugural Competition Line-Up, Including Ten World Premieres". Deadline. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
- ^ "Bi Gan, los Dardenne, Sergei Loznitsa, Lav Diaz y Mascha Schilinski competirán por la Espiga de Oro en la 70 Seminci". Kinótico (in Spanish). July 24, 2025. Retrieved September 7, 2025.
- ^ "We are looking forward to these six films at the BFI London Film Festival". Wallpaper*. October 3, 2025. Retrieved October 16, 2025.
- ^ "Festa del Cinema di Roma 2025, il programma completo (diretta)" [Rome Film Fest 2025: Full program (live)]. Ciak Magazine (in Italian). September 19, 2025. Retrieved September 19, 2025.
- ^ a b Scarpa, Vittoria (October 27, 2025). "Left-Handed Girl wins Best Film at the Rome Film Fest". Cineuropa. Retrieved October 28, 2025.
- ^ D’Alessandro, Anthony (July 30, 2025). "Netflix Sets Fall Release For Shih-Ching Tsou & Sean Baker's 'Left-Handed Girl'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 30, 2025.
- ^ Ramachandran, Naman (August 28, 2025). "Taiwan Selects 'Left-Handed Girl' as Oscar Submission". Variety. Retrieved August 29, 2025.
- ^ "Left-Handed Girl". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved November 14, 2025.
- ^ "Left-Handed Girl". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
- ^ Dalton, Ben (May 22, 2025). "Thai comedy-drama 'A Useful Ghost' wins top prize at Cannes Critics' Week 2025". Screen International. Retrieved May 22, 2025.
- ^ Roxborough, Scott (October 4, 2025). "Slovak Oscar Contender 'Father' Wins Zurich Film Festival". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 4, 2025.
- ^ "The Montclair Film Festival Announces 2025 Honors". Montclair Film. September 17, 2025. Retrieved October 5, 2025.
- ^ "Avance de Seminci: estos son los nombres que competirán por la Espiga de Oro". Cadena SER. July 24, 2025.
- ^ "Here are the winners of the Stockholm International Film Festival 2025". Mynewsdesk. November 14, 2025. Retrieved November 14, 2025.
- ^ McGowan, Andrew (November 21, 2025). "'A Sad and Beautiful World,' 'Left-Handed Girl,' Vishal Jethwa and Tandin Bidha Among Winners at Asian World Film Festival". Variety. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
- ^ Wong, Silvia (October 1, 2025). "'A Foggy Tale', 'Left-Handed Girl' lead Taiwan's Golden Horse Awards nominations". Screen Daily. Retrieved October 2, 2025.
- ^ Wong, Silvia (November 23, 2025). "'A Foggy Tale' wins multiple prizes including best film at Taiwan's Golden Horse Awards". Screen Daily. Retrieved November 23, 2025.
- ^ Hopson, Travis (December 8, 2025). "SINNERS Takes Best Film At 2025 WAFCA Awards". WAFCA. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
- ^ "2025 San Diego Film Critics Society Nominations". San Diego Film Critics Society. December 12, 2025. Retrieved December 17, 2025.
- ^ Neglia, Matt (December 19, 2025). "The 2025 Las Vegas Film Critics Society (LVFCS) Winners". NBP. Retrieved December 19, 2025.
- ^ "NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED FOR THE 31ST ANNUAL CRITICS CHOICE AWARDS HOSTED BY CHELSEA HANDLER – Critics Choice Association". Retrieved December 5, 2025.
