Actress Shu Qi Debuts Trauma-Based Film at Venice Festival

Renowned Taiwanese actress Shu Qi has made her directorial debut with the film "Girl," which premiered at the Venice Film Festival and is inspired by her traumatic childhood with an alcoholic and abusive father. Set in 1988 Taipei, the film follows a young girl, Hsiao-lee, navigating poverty and domestic violence, reflecting intergenerational trauma. Shu Qi spent over a decade developing the screenplay, drawing partly from her own life experiences, and employed subtle storytelling techniques influenced by director Hou Hsiao-hsien's "iceberg theory." The film has received praise for its emotional depth and raw portrayal of family struggles, despite some critiques of pacing. Shu Qi confronted her father about depicting his story on screen, highlighting the film's deeply personal nature. After Venice, "Girl" is scheduled to screen at the Toronto International Film Festival.