In the restless glow of Taipei’s night markets, survival is a daily battle — and Left-Handed Girl (2025) turns that struggle into a gripping cinematic portrait. Directed by Shih-Ching Tsou and co-written with Sean Baker, known for acclaimed indie dramas like The Florida Project and Red Rocket, the film blends superstition, tradition and economic hardship into a tense and deeply human story.
Premiering at Cannes Critics’ Week 2025 and later selected as Taiwan’s official Oscar submission, the drama has already attracted attention for its realism, emotional precision and unfiltered look at working-class life. With its mix of festival prestige and rising global interest in Taiwanese cinema, Left-Handed Girl is emerging as one of the year’s most talked-about international films. Here is everything you need to know about Left-Handed Girl — from the plot and cast to early reactions, themes and its expected Netflix release date.
What happens in Left-Handed Girl?
A single mother returns to Taipei with her two daughters after years of struggling in the countryside, determined to rebuild their lives in the chaos of the city. They set up a small food stall in a packed night market, hoping the constant crowds will bring a fresh start. But the family’s fragile stability is shaken when the youngest daughter — born left-handed — becomes the focus of her grandfather’s superstition. Convinced her “devil hand” will bring disaster, he unleashes a tension that quietly grows until it exposes buried wounds, unspoken loyalties, and generational fears.
Director Shih-Ching Tsou lets the emotion rise through intimate details: the rhythm of cooking, late-night conversations, and the shared exhaustion of survival. Beneath the noise and neon of Taipei’s markets, the film shows how resilience can feel both painfully ordinary and quietly heroic..
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Who’s in the cast of Left-Handed Girl?
Janel Tsai anchors the film as a mother negotiating bills, pride, and the future she wants for her daughters. Shih-Yuan Ma and Nina Ye play the siblings with complementary energy — one cautious, one questioning — while older relatives embody the pull of inherited rules. Behind the camera, Tsou’s collaboration with Sean Baker brings a raw, street-level texture fans of their earlier work will recognize.
All the key details about Left-Handed Girl
- Title: Left-Handed Girl
- Format: Film
- Length: 109 minutes
- Genre: Drama / Coming-of-age
- Country of production: Taiwan
- Original language: Mandarin / Taiwanese
- Year of release: 2025
- Director: Shih-Ching Tsou
- Main cast: Janel Tsai, Shih-Yuan Ma, Nina Ye
- Produced by: (with) Sean Baker — in collaboration with international partners; streaming on Netflix
Is Left-Handed Girl based on a true story?
It’s an original story, but it’s personal. Tsou has said the film draws from memories of growing up left-handed within a traditional environment. That autobiographical spark gives the drama its authenticity — a lived sense of how small taboos can shape a life.
She explained that as a child, she was often told to “correct” her left hand, a practice that left both a physical and emotional mark. By channeling that memory into cinema, Tsou turns a private experience into a universal metaphor for difference and conformity — showing how identity can quietly rebel even in the most ordinary spaces.
What are the reviews on Left-Handed Girl?
Festival critics praised Tsou’s debut for its humane focus and tactile sense of place, noting the balance of observational realism and emotional clarity. The performances — especially from the mother-daughter trio — are singled out for their restraint, while the film’s pacing and grounded humor keep sentimentality at bay. It’s the kind of international drama that travels well without losing its local soul.
Where was Left-Handed Girl filmed?
Filmed in Taipei, Taiwan, with real night-market locations that lend the story its lived-in authenticity — steam, neon, scooters, and the bustle of street-food culture are part of the film’s texture. The director insisted on using actual vendors and working stalls rather than studio recreations, giving every frame a pulse of real city life. Night shoots stretched until dawn, capturing the transition from chaos to calm — a visual rhythm that mirrors the family’s daily struggle for survival.
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Left-Handed Girl: Behind the scenes and fun facts
Shih-Ching Tsou makes her first solo feature after years of creative partnership with Sean Baker, a collaboration that included the early indie standout Take Out. In this new film, the idea of being left-handed becomes far more than a stylistic touch; it turns into a recurring visual and thematic thread, shaping scenes of cooking, writing and everyday labor, and symbolizing quiet defiance against expectations. Premiering at Cannes Critics’ Week 2025 and later selected as Taiwan’s official submission for Best International Feature Film, the movie is already positioned as one of the year’s most significant international titles.
What’s Left-Handed Girl like?
If you enjoyed The Farewell or Minari, this is the right film for you — blending intimate family drama with street-level realism and a clear sense of place.
When is Left-Handed Girl coming out on streaming?
Coming soon. Left-Handed Girl streams on Netflix starting November 28, 2025, following a limited U.S. theatrical run. Watch on Netflix.
Watch the trailer
In the meantime, here’s the trailer.
