The acclaimed Taiwanese family drama co-written by Sean Baker arrives on Netflix on 28th November
Netflix is set to premiere one of 2025’s finest films this week – a hidden gem that deserves your immediate attention.
Directed by Shih-Ching Tsou and co-written alongside her frequent collaborator Sean Baker, Left-Handed Girl is a beautifully restrained family drama that will leave audiences captivated.
Baker recently claimed the Best Picture Oscar for his stunning contemporary masterpiece Anora, featuring Mikey Madison, whilst Tsou has previously collaborated with him on productions including Tangerine and The Florida Project.
Now making her solo directorial debut, Tsou presents Left-Handed Girl, an intimate examination of single mother Shu-Fen (portrayed by Janel Tsai) who relocates to Taipei alongside her two daughters.
When five year old I-Jing (Nina Ye) begins favouring her left hand, the household faces turmoil as her traditional grandfather brands it her “devil hand” and prohibits I-Jing from using it, reports the Mirror.
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Arriving on Netflix from Friday, 28th November, the production has garnered widespread critical praise and represents Taiwan’s entry for best international film at the upcoming Oscars.
The Guardian bestowed five stars upon it, declaring this “striking Taiwanese family drama is a real marvel”.
They continued: “Tsou and Baker’s script sharply examines what it really means to lose face: which shames are noble, which are indulgent and what should be passed from one generation to the next?”
“Above all else, this film features what may be one of the best child performances that I’ve seen in recent memory,” one Letterboxd reviewer claimed after seeing Left-Handed Girl at the Toronto International Film Festival.
“Where this movie goes from one innocent little assumption passed by family escalates into something unexpected. It’s enough to prove Shih-Ching Tsou is on her way to becoming a great filmmaker in her own right too.”
Another viewer commented: “Genuinely a very strong contender for the best film of the year. So glad I took the time to see this.
“It was so nice to hear the incredibly positive reactions from the other folks around me in the theatre when the credits rolled. It’s been a minute since I’ve been in a theatre where the audience clapped at the end. So lovely!”
A third remarked: “It does not surprise me that Sean Baker is one of the screenwriters on this film. It is a beautifully nuanced depiction of family dynamics, and family secrets.
“The wonderful performances, sometimes very raw, also felt very flawed and real. This film and also their other collaborations all worth revisiting!”
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Meanwhile, a final enthusiast observed: “What a remarkable film. One of the most charming kid performances I’ve seen.
“The stories/struggles of each character in this family are so well balanced. Every heartwarming and heartbreaking moment just lands perfectly.”
Will you be watching this hidden Taiwanese treasure now that it’s becoming available to stream at home?
Left-Handed Girl is streaming from Friday, 28th November on Netflix.
