Who starts a review with such a controversial opinion? Me, it seems. I’m clearly trying to grab your attention, but that’s because I want to urge you to watch Left-Handed Girl, releasing globally on Netflix this November. This is not only because I myself am a “left-handed girl,” but also because this film is a reminder of what good movie-watching experiences feel like. Having watched it in a fully crowded theatre at the Busan Film Festival, I’m not just speaking for myself when I say this movie will make you audibly react, thanks to the central protagonist who is the same age as Matilda back in the day. Seeing anything from the perspective of a child is always endearing, but seeing the busy neon-lit streets of the Taiwanese markets with the beautiful night sky in the background is something else altogether.
Left-Handed Girl tells the story of a child named I-Jing, who finds herself in hot water every time she’s around her grandfather because, as you may have guessed already, she always puts her left hand out first. At the same time, she, her mom, and her sister have just moved into a new place in Taipei, ready to start a noodle business in the busy market. Will they be able to survive the monstrosity that is Taipei’s rents, and will they remain a family unit when living in the big city? That’s what you’ll find out after watching Left-Handed Girl.
The film is written by Sean Baker, and before you know it, you can somehow already see the Baker-isms. Before Anora, there was The Florida Project, and there are many similarities between these two films. From the innocent lens of a child to the sister dynamic, there are many obvious parallels, but Left-Handed Girl holds its own, specifically because of how it feels like a nosedive into Taiwanese culture. Directed and co-written by Shih-Ching Tsou, Baker’s long-term collaborator, Left-Handed Girl is a spectacle of women from three generations. Now, if you haven’t had a chance to see the trailer, I implore you to go into this film blind, because it does give away a huge part of the film. Baker and Shih-Ching Tsou’s long-standing partnership is certainly reflected in the way the film is presented, and I’m honestly here for it.
I managed to catch two Taiwanese films at BIFF, and both of them have a distinct palette to them, which is both aesthetically enchanting and emotionally devastating. In Left-Handed Girl, the main characters aren’t just the actresses in the leading roles. There’s also the scooter I-Ann rides and the table Shu-Fen makes her noodles on. I myself come from a country where, for the longest time, being left-handed was considered taboo, but I-Jing’s reaction to her grandfather’s threats is creative and unique, something I wish I had thought of myself (I don’t want to give out any spoilers) because this is a huge part of the film. But when this conflict is resolved, you think the film’s over, though it’s only just begun.
The first two acts of the film are subtle, sober, and very entertaining, using humor to really elevate the beautiful city we’re experiencing through I-Jing’s eyes, but the final act goes into a full-blown Taiwanese family drama. To be honest, I’m not complaining about that at all, but I can see why it may leave room for criticism, considering it feels almost like a last-minute addition to the otherwise “chill” (for lack of a better word) film. To be fair, having revisited the film in my mind days after watching it, I can see that it’s prepping you for those moments right from the start, but it can still feel a little offbeat.
Janel Tsai plays Shu-Fen, the mother who is fed up with her life. She brings a mature look to the film, anchoring the otherwise fantasy-like vibe to the ground. The actress has her own romantic endeavors in the film, mostly pursued off-screen, because, to be honest, she’s a supporting character. On the other hand, there is Shih-Yuan Ma, Shu-Fen’s older daughter. A rebel child who does things her own way, wears whatever she likes, even if everyone disapproves of it, and has big dreams for her future. It appears this is the actress’ first-ever film role, and she does such a fantastic job. Her eyes do most of the talking, because you know what teenagers are like; they say one thing and feel something else. Also, her hair is definitely a main character as well, the straight black strands veiling her whenever needed and tied up when she knows what she’s after. But of course, the real star of this film has to be little Nina Ye, who plays I-Jing. Yeah, watching her dance to a K-pop song healed something in me, but jokes aside, the child actress is both innocent and firm. Her character arc definitely has some interesting bits to sit through, and her expressions are to live for. I’m always in awe of child actors because it blows my mind how much they can take away from a script.
If you’re a gourmand, you might want to grab a bowl of your favorite noodles while watching the film. It might make you hungry, or at least leave you craving some good, wholesome Asian takeout. It might also make you want to buy tickets to Taipei just because of how wonderfully bright and inviting the city looks, both through the innocent perspective of a child and through the winding lens of a woman looking for an escape. Everything about the movie is picturesque, and that alone is reason enough to watch Left-Handed Girl. But if none of what I’ve said has made you excited about this film, then at least watch it for the fact that it’s Sean Baker’s first project after Anora. I give Left-Handed Girl 4 out of 5 stars and a piece of my heart.
