Left-Handed Girl

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Left-Handed Girl

R

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1h 48m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

98%

Tomatometer

96 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

50+ Ratings

A single mother and her two daughters return to Taipei after several years of living in the countryside to open a stand at a buzzing night market. Each in their way will have to adapt to this new environment to make ends meet and maintain the family unity. But when their traditional grandfather forbids his youngest left-handed granddaughter from using her "devil hand," generations of family secrets begin to unravel.

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Critics Consensus

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.

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Ty Burr

Ty Burr's Watch List (Substack)

Dec 8

3/4

Pungently filmed, with a haunting central performance by Tsai as the mother.

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Deborah Ross

The Spectator

Dec 2

It’s one of those films where the stakes don’t appear that high, yet we become so attached to this family and their survival it will all matter a great deal.

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Natalia Winkelman

New York Times

Dec 2

Expressive visuals and evocative scenes, including one involving an overactive meerkat, make “Left-Handed Girl” a memorable family affair.

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Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

18h

6/10

Tsou's approach is often reflected in the urban atmospheres of Taipei and the decent performances led by Janel Tsai, but unfortunately, I feel there is little emotional depth to its subject matter of maternal sacrifice. [Full review in Spanish]

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Aaron Neuwirth

We Live Entertainment

2d

7/10

As it stands, this is undoubtedly a well-assembled feature with solid work coming from the young/non-professional performers. And being left-handed myself, I hope this girl goes on to great things.

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Marcelo Paredes

Cinencuentro

Dec 13

While some elements could be refined and it occasionally touches on certain clichés, the film maintains its charm both formally and narratively thanks to the intimacy it fosters. [Full review in Spanish]

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Maeling

2d

Wish it was in English language

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t W

Nov 15

Intimate, beautiful, and a great movie.

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Kellie G

@Daffodil774 4d

Life can be messy but we keep going. The ending lifts my spirits

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TheMovieSearch R

@TheMovieSearch 6d

The Left-Handed Girl is a foreign film that struggles to engage viewers who do not speak Mandarin. Heavy dubbing makes it difficult to connect with the characters, and subtitles often overwhelm the screen with too much text at once. The lead actress shows strong commitment and energy, but the disjointed narrative undermines her performance. The director’s choices create confusion and slow pacing, and even the cinematography cannot fully compensate. While the film may attract attention in award circuits for its artistic ambition, it lacks universal appeal and fails to resonate with a broader audience. Critics may praise technical aspects, but general viewers will find it hard to stay invested. Despite its potential and moments of charm, it ultimately falls short and is not a film I would recommend.

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Tom C.

@Tom.C Dec 14

Good movie, good plot, a dive in a common life destiny.

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Alec B

Dec 11

It leans a little too hard on big family secret reveals that are not all that suprising but it is still an interesting look at the struggling working class of Taiwan.

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Shih-Ching Tsou

Director

Janel Tsai

Shu-Fen

Nina Ye

I-Jing

Shi-Yuan Ma

I-Ann

Brando Huang

Johnny

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Synopsis

A single mother and her two daughters return to Taipei after several years of living in the countryside to open a stand at a buzzing night market. Each in their way will have to adapt to this new environment to make ends meet and maintain the family unity. But when their traditional grandfather forbids his youngest left-handed granddaughter from using her "devil hand," generations of family secrets begin to unravel.

Director: Shih-Ching Tsou
Screenwriter: Shih-Ching Tsou, Sean Baker
Distributor: Netflix
Production Co: Through the Lens Entertainment, Le Pacte, Cinema Inutile, Good Chaos, Left-Handed Girl Film Productions Company
Rating: R (Sexual Content and Language)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Chinese
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 14, 2025, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 28, 2025
Runtime: 1h 48m

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