From writer-director Shih-Ching Tsou and co-writer/producer/editor Sean Baker (Anora, The Florida Project, The Red Rocket) comes a movie that portrays the struggles of a single Chinese woman attempting to provide for her two daughters, on her own terms, while maintaining some semblance of pride and honor to please her parents. However, they have some skeletons in their own closet. Though this movie takes place in China, it feels like a Sean Baker affair, with characters desperate to succeed in life, despite the sacrifices, hard work, and shortcuts they take to save face.
Janel Tsai stars as Shu-Fen, a single mother who wishes to start a food stand in a Chinese open market to provide for her young adult daughter, I-Ann (Shih Yuan-Ma), and her youngest child, I-Jing (Nina Ye). Very rebellious, I-Ann insists on working for a nearby, shady store which also sells illegal drugs on the down-low. Shu-Fen focuses on getting her business started, falls behind on her rent payments, and must attend to familial dramas that further complicate matters.
I was captivated and riveted by this film. The overall story, the characters and their poor decisions, and the reactions of others feel like a Sean Baker story. Writer/director Shih-Ching Tsou does a solid job of presenting this atmosphere and the troubles the characters face in very relatable situations, while remaining relevant to Chinese culture. This type of story is totally Baker’s wheelhouse, as it sometimes feels very akin to the problems that the characters in The Florida Project face, while also filtering these themes through the realities of being a working-class Chinese family.
The entire cast performs exceptionally, but I was particularly impressed by young actor Nina Ye, who portrays the titular character, I-Jing. Fans of Sean Baker’s previous movies should most definitely check out Left-Handed Girl. It puts a fascinating spin on the commonalities between Chinese culture and that of working-class Americans. Left-Handed Girl is now available for streaming on Netflix.