Movie review: The quiet weight of inherited beliefs

Shih-Ching Tsou's directorial debut, 'Left-Handed Girl,' delicately weaves together visual poetry, intricate family dynamics, and grounded social realism. The film opens with a seemingly minor incident: a grandfather tells young I-Jing, "Left is the devil’s hand," as she uses her left hand at the dinner table. This seemingly small remark gradually hardens into a personal mythology, profoundly impacting the five-year-old's psyche.

Tsou, who previously collaborated with Sean Baker on films like 'The Florida Project,' demonstrates a nuanced understanding of the intertwined tenderness and cruelty inherent in family relationships and traditions. The screenplay is characterized by its generosity and patience, allowing each character to develop organically without resorting to simplistic portrayals of good versus evil. The grandfather is not depicted as a villain, nor is the mother a saint, lending the film a compelling emotional honesty.

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Left is the devil’s hand.

The narrative centers on a single mother, Shu-fen, and her two daughters, exploring the multifaceted journey from childhood to adulthood. I-Jing's beliefs are significantly shaped by her grandfather's words, leading her to associate her left hand with wrongdoing and subsequently shoplift. The film's visual language, captured entirely on an iPhone, is intimate and raw, alternating between handheld shots that follow I-Jing and composed static frames. The cinematography embraces the city's ambient noise and vibrant lights, eschewing polished perfection for a more authentic feel.

Shu-Fen embodies resilience through her everyday labor amidst marital disputes, serving as a refuge for her daughters. Her older daughter, I-Ann, presents a guarded exterior that masks her own struggles for stability and affection. The film also reveals I-Ann's past academic achievements, contrasting with her current status as a high school dropout. The naturalistic performances, particularly from the young actors, are a significant strength, making the characters feel exceptionally real.

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With time and repetition, it hardens into a private mythology and ultimately into a psychological alteration for a five-year-old child.