Left-Handed Girl (2025): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Where to Watch
Left-Handed Girl is a 2025 drama directed by Shih-Ching Tsou, starring Janel Tsai as Shu-Fen, Nina Yeh and Nina Ye. It runs 1 hour 48 minutes and earned $761,455 worldwide. It earned 2 award nominations, including Best Foreign Language Film at the Critics' Choice 2026. Critics gave it 98% on Rotten Tomatoes and 77 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.3/10. Stream it on Netflix.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 48m (108 min)
- Director
- Shih-Ching Tsou
- Genre
- Drama
- Original language
-
Chinese
- Studio
- Cinema Inutile
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Left-Handed Girl About?
The premise of Left-Handed Girl without spoilers. The whole story and the ending explained are in the plot summary further down.
After years living in the countryside, a single mother brings her two daughters back to Taipei to run a stall at a bustling night market. When their traditional grandfather insists the youngest, who is left‑handed, must not use her “devil hand,” long‑buried family secrets surface and the truth of generations begins to unravel.
Where to Watch Left-Handed Girl
Stream it on Netflix. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
Stream 2
Left-Handed Girl Cast & Characters
Janel Tsai leads the cast as Shu-Fen, with Nina Yeh as I-Jing and Nina Ye as I-Jing. Directed by Shih-Ching Tsou; 15 actors are credited in all.
- Director Shih-Ching Tsou
- Janel Tsai as Shu-Fen
- Nina Yeh as I-Jing
- Nina Ye as I-Jing
- Ma Shih-yuan as I-Ann
Also Starring in Left-Handed Girl
· 11 more- Shi-Yuan Ma I-Ann
- Brando Huang Johnny
- Akio Chen
- Blaire Chang Xiao -hong
- Hsia Teng Hung
- Alvin Lin
- Esther K. Chae Shu-Fen
- Teng-Hui Huang Johnny
- Yen-Ju Chen
- Xin-Yan Chao
- Teng-Hung Hsia
Left-Handed Girl Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave Left-Handed Girl 98% on Rotten Tomatoes and 77 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.3/10. Our Echo Score gives it 83/100, strongest in sensory experience (85) and weakest in story & flow (68).
Left-Handed Girl Echo Score Breakdown
Left‑Handed Girl delivers a thoughtful portrait of three generations of women in Taipei, anchored by strong performances and distinctive visual choices. Critics note the film’s sensitive handling of family dynamics and its authentic, grounded tone, while some point to occasional narrative wobbliness. User reactions echo the appreciation for its intimate slice‑of‑life approach and emotional resonance. The consensus leans toward a compelling, if imperfect, drama that rewards attentive viewing. Overall, the film stands as a notable addition to contemporary Taiwanese cinema.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 78
ART: The direction and production design emphasize everyday realism, with Tsou and co‑editors crafting a restrained yet purposeful aesthetic. Critics applaud the iPhone cinematography for its immersive night‑market palette and measured editing, though a few note occasional visual wobbliness. Overall the craft feels deliberate and effective.
- Character & Emotion 82
CHARACTER: Performances anchor the film, with Nina Ye delivering a nuanced, emotive turn and the mother and elder sister providing layered support. Reviewers highlight the authenticity of the child’s instinctive behavior and the believable chemistry among the trio, while acknowledging a few uneven moments. The acting overall reinforces the film’s emotional core.
- Story & Flow 68
STORY: The narrative weaves three personal arcs into a broader commentary on familial duty, earning praise for its original premise and occasional surprising twists. Critics, however, cite an impersonal tone and uneven pacing that occasionally dilute emotional impact. The story thus balances inventive moments with structural fragility.
- Sensory Experience 85
SENSORY: Visuals dominate the sensory experience, with the iPhone‑captured night‑market scenes rendered in heightened color and grain that convey texture and intimacy. Sound design remains understated, allowing ambient city noise to reinforce setting without distraction. The overall sensory palette augments immersion while staying true to the film’s modest scale.
- Rewatch Factor 80
REWATCH: The film’s intimate focus and authentic moments create a lingering emotional resonance that invites repeat viewings. Users note its slice‑of‑life honesty and the satisfying blend of optimism with grounded drama, while critics appreciate its subtlety over spectacle. Rewatch value is bolstered by the nuanced performances and atmospheric world‑building.
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IMDb 7.3 /10
9994 votes
See on IMDb -
Rotten Tomatoes 98% Tomatometer
Popcornmeter 83%
See on Rotten Tomatoes -
Metacritic 77 Metascore
User score 7.3
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 73% User score
See on TMDB -
Letterboxd 3.9 /5
96000 ratings
See on Letterboxd
Left-Handed Girl Plot Summary & Ending Explained
What happens in Left-Handed Girl from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events and the ending explained. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
A single mother Shu-Fen Janel Tsai moves with her two daughters—five-year-old I-Jing Nina Ye and college-aged I-Ann Shi-Yuan Ma—to Taipei to open a bustling noodle stand in a crowded night market, while I-Ann hovers between work at a betel nut stand as a betel nut beauty and the pressures of supporting the family. The move marks a fresh start, but it soon collides with hard truths about money, health, and responsibility that bend the family under one roof.
Full summary
The whole story of Left-Handed Girl, scene by scene, with the ending explained
Left-Handed Girl Box Office
Left-Handed Girl grossed $761,455 worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$761.5K
- International
- $761.5K
Left-Handed Girl Awards & Nominations
Left-Handed Girl earned 2 award nominations, including Best Foreign Language Film at the Critics' Choice 2026.
2 nominations1 ceremony
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Critics' Choice 2026 2 nominations- Nominated Best Foreign Language Film
- Nominated Best Young Actor or Actress – Nina Ye
Left-Handed Girl Trailers & Videos
9 videos: 1 trailer, 1 clip, 6 featurettes and 1 behind-the-scenes video.
- Clip BIFF2025 Trailer [ENG SUB]
- Featurette The Cast Eats Taiwanese Food
- Featurette A Conversation with Shih-Ching Tsou
- Featurette Shot by Shot - Apology Tour
How Well Do You Know Left-Handed Girl?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What business does Shu-Fen open with her daughters in Taipei?
Seen Left-Handed Girl?
Movies Like Left-Handed Girl
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Left-Handed Woman, Leftover Women and The Old Town Girls.
Articles About Left-Handed Girl
Our article about Left-Handed Girl: “Left-Handed Girl (2025) Review & Critics Opinions – Audience Reception, Storytelling & Performance Analysis”.
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Opinions
Left-Handed Girl FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Box Office
Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch, box office, ratings and awards of Left-Handed Girl, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Left-Handed Girl?
Left-Handed Girl runs 1 hour 48 minutes (108 minutes).
When was Left-Handed Girl released?
Left-Handed Girl was released on November 14, 2025.
Who directed Left-Handed Girl?
Left-Handed Girl was directed by Shih-Ching Tsou.
More films by Shih-Ching Tsou Who is in the cast of Left-Handed Girl?
Left-Handed Girl stars Janel Tsai as Shu-Fen, Nina Yeh as I-Jing and Nina Ye as I-Jing, among 15 credited actors.
Where can I watch Left-Handed Girl?
In the US, Left-Handed Girl is streaming on Netflix (availability from JustWatch).
How much did Left-Handed Girl make at the box office?
Left-Handed Girl grossed $761,455 worldwide.
How is Left-Handed Girl rated?
Left-Handed Girl has 7.3/10 on IMDb, 98% on Rotten Tomatoes, 77 on Metacritic and 73% on TMDB.
Was Left-Handed Girl nominated for any awards?
Left-Handed Girl received 2 nominations across 1 ceremony.
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