女孩
124 min., 2025 Taiwan, China
Mandarin, Czech and English subtitles Director: Shu Qi Distributor: Goodfellas
Teenager Hsiao-lee (Bai Xiao-Ying) is trying to find happiness in life again thanks to her new friend Li-li (Audrey Lin). Standing in her way are complicated circumstances at home and her mother’s past. Partly autobiographical, this debut of Taiwanese star Shu Qi walks a fine line between a light-hearted coming-of-age drama and the slow cinema tradition that shaped her acting style. She knows how to capture the cheerful playfulness of growing up, slowing the pace at the right moment and allowing the audience to feel the impact of difficult decisions. With her first feature, she proves that she is a naturally gifted author with a distinctive directorial style.
She collaborated with an exceptionally talented team well known to the festival audience. Behind the camera was Yu Jing-Pin, whose visual style will also be seen in this year’s opening feature, Good Trip. The film was edited by the creative duo of Lai Kwun-Tung, who edited the intimate Hong Kong drama Someone Like Me and our opening film two years ago, Fly Me to the Moon by Sasha Chuk, and Wong Kar Wai’s long-time editor William Chang. The score was composed by Lim Giong, a legend of Taiwanese experimental electronic music. Shu Qi managed to bring together the best creative talents in contemporary Taiwanese and Hong Kong film. As an experienced actress, she also knows how to give the performers room to shine, guiding them toward unexpectedly powerful performances.
Debuts by major acting stars are risky business, but Shu Qi demonstrates that her wide-ranging career that includes action hits, blockbusters, playful comedies and festival features is an advantage that helps her guide viewers exactly where she needs to – toward a sensitive portrayal of a young girl’s coming of age.
