When a single mother moves her two daughters to a new location, there are superstitions and revelations to be uncovered.
Left-Handed Girl
Left-Handed Girl is a 2025 Taiwanese American film directed by Shih-Ching Tsou and starring Janel Tsai, Shih-Yuan Ma, Nina Ye, Teng-Hui Huang, Akio Chen, and Xin-Yan Chao. Shih-ching Tsou and Sean Baker co-wrote the film. You can watch this film on Netflix. This is an intimate story about a divorced mother, Shu-Fen (Janel Tsai), as she builds a new life for herself and her children, I-Jeng (Nina Ye) and I-Ann (Shih-Yuan Ma). While Shu-Fen rents a noodle shop stall working at the night market, I-Ann reluctantly cares for her younger sister and works a questionable side job at a betel nut stand where she is having an affair with her boss.
Because I-Ann is openly hostile to her little sister, I-Jeng is free to explore the market and the surrounding area. Money is tight, and life is not easy for women trying to make a living in Taipei, and Shu-Fen is also tasked with the burial plans for her ex-husband. The landlord wants his rent, or he will shut the noodle shop. Luckily for Shu-Fen, a fellow stall renter (Teng-Hui Huang) brings some good advice and camaraderie to the family.
When I-Jeng’s grandfather (Akio Chen) tells her that a devil lives inside her because she is left-handed, the child begins to steal from neighbouring stalls. There is tension between Shu-Fen and her mother, Ma (Xin-Yan Chao), but we never really learn why the mother dislikes Shu-Fen so much while pampering her other adult children. This is especially curious because the mother is running an immigration scam.
Conclusion
A few subplots are going on at once, but the beauty of Left-Handed Girl is in the personal relationship between Shu-Fen and her mother, and with Shu-Fen and I-Ann. The unexpected secret kept from the grandmother is revealed toward the end of the film. I was not expecting this revelation.
This resentment between mothers and daughters is used as a prop in many films, but it is not as effective as in Left-Handed Girl. The film takes a hard look at the female survival skills of a multi-generational family. It is not easy to watch. There are no safety nets for these women.
We basically see the events unfolding through the eyes of little I-Jeng… what makes Left-Handed Girl so amazing is that it was filmed entirely on iPhones, which allowed for a more intimate documentary immersion into the story.
Left-Handed Girl is a great film and it’s on Netflix. Watch it.
