Left-Handed Girl explores superstition, tradition and resilience through the innocent eyes of five-year-old I-Jing, in a funny, moving portrait of modern Taiwanese womanhood. An impressive solo debut from Shih-Ching Tsou, long-time creative partner of Sean Baker (Anora).

Single mother Shu-Fen and her two daughters, teenager I-Ann and five-year-old I-Jing, return to Taipei after years of living in the countryside. The move brings a lot of obstacles for all three of them. Shu-Fen has to clean up her ex’s mess while also working herself to the bone at a small food stall, while I-Ann wants to stand on her own two feet but keeps making the wrong decisions. When her traditional grandfather tells the left-handed I-Jing that she is never to use ‘the devil’s hand’ again, three generations of family secrets suddenly begin to unravel.

Left-Handed Girl largely takes place in Taipei’s covered night markets, where little I-Jing darts through the lit-up streets, looking for adventure. The film is director Shih-Ching’s solo debut, who previously worked as a producer for Sean Baker’s The Florida Project, Tangerine and Red Rocket, and co-directed Soul Kitchen with him.