2025 Hit Film Finally Lands on Netflix, Critics Hail It a Masterpiece

I was so excited to finally find “Left-Handed Girl” on Netflix! Everyone’s saying it’s incredible. It’s a Taiwanese drama, and Shih-Ching Tsou wrote, directed, and produced it – Sean Baker even helped out as a co-writer, producer, and editor. The movie stars Janel Tsai as Shu-Fen, Shih-Yuan Ma as I-Ann, and Nina Ye as I-Jing, with great supporting performances from Brando Huang, Akio Chen, and Xin-Yan Chao. I can’t wait to watch it!

The film debuted at the Cannes Film Festival’s Critics’ Week on May 15, 2025. It opened in French cinemas on September 17th and had a small release in the U.S. on November 14th, followed by worldwide streaming availability on November 28th. Additionally, Taiwan submitted Left-Handed Girl for consideration as Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards.

The new film Left-Handed Girl is now available on Netflix. It’s directed, written, and produced by Shih-Ching Tsou and Sean Baker. The story follows a mother and her two daughters as they relocate to Taipei to start a noodle shop, but their new beginning is complicated by family secrets and cultural expectations. The film stars Shih-Yuan…

— xᴉlɟʇǝu (@netflix) November 28, 2025

Tsou and Baker first wrote the story in 2010, but it took years to secure funding and begin filming. Production officially started in July 2022, and remarkably, the entire movie was shot on an iPhone. By February of the following year, editing and other post-production work were almost complete.

The film has received widespread praise for its touching story and realistic portrayal of culture. Reviewers on Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 99% approval rating, based on 43 reviews. According to the site, the film is “a warm tour through Taipei distinguished by its lived-in cultural specificity and relatable family dynamics, and a winning first solo feature from writer-director Shih-Ching Tsou.” Metacritic also gave the film a positive score of 77 out of 100, signaling generally favorable reviews.

Critics praised the film for its unusual approach to storytelling, focusing on ordinary objects and small details alongside the characters. One reviewer noted that even things like a scooter and a noodle table felt like characters in the film. Another described the movie as both enjoyable and deeply moving, highlighting the director’s ability to create a heartfelt and immersive experience of a different place and culture.

The film delves into important ideas about tradition, taking responsibility, and becoming a better person. One reviewer perfectly captured this, saying that tradition and responsibility are complicated, and our choices always have consequences. Ultimately, the film suggests that being true to yourself is more important than living up to expectations, and that how you handle mistakes defines you.

Left-Handed Girl is being celebrated as one of the best films of 2025, thanks to its rich cultural background, powerful acting, and moving story.

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2025-11-29 13:44