By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4.5 cats
Director: Shih-Ching Tsou
Starring: Akio Chen | Janet Tsai | Nina Ye | Shih-Yuan Ma | Teng-Hui Huang
Original language title: Zuopiezi nuhai
Year: 2025
Running time: 108
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27722618/reference/
Michael says: “Maybe slightly too many storylines, but first-time director Shih-Ching Tsou manages to weave them all together nicely. Both a family drama and a look at the general changes in culture in Taiwan — as well as a vivid portrait of busy Taipei, the three lead performances really shine, particularly Nina Ye as I Jing (now 9-years-old) already having appeared in 6 feature films, who shines as the titular left-handed girl. When her grandfather, a traditionalist regarding the Taiwanese ways, instructs her not to use her left hand, because it belongs to the devil, I Jing absolves herself of any activity undertaken by that hand as it’s not her, it’s the devil doing it. The film is largely seen through her eyes, and Tsou manages to balance the lack of full understanding with a larger perspective.
“Director Tsou has worked on three of Sean Baker’s features, (TANGERINE, THE FLORIDA PROJECT, RED ROCKET) and he returns the favor by co-writing and editing LEFT HANDED GIRL, and while there are some similarities, I think Tsou’s voice really shines through. The big reveal at the end of the film gets a little melodramatic, but it doesn’t really take away from the freshness and great dynamic between the three women. 4 1/2 cats