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After the screening on Sept. 4, the audience applauded for over eight minutes, encouraging the film crew. In response, Shu stood up to thank them but could not hold back her tears, as reported by Their.

The actress explained that the pressure of directing was far greater than acting, admitting that she felt anxious before the ceremony, fearing someone might tell her they did not like the film. Her tears, she said, were the release of that overwhelming pressure.

The film is set in 1980s Taiwan, and explores the difficult dynamics of a toxic low-income family. It follows a shy and fearful girl named Hsiao-lee, delving into themes of domestic violence, alcohol abuse, and inter-generational trauma. Shu drew from her own childhood experiences, describing the story as deeply personal, according to Taipei Times.

“The primary reason I was driven to make this film is tied to my childhood experiences, which left scars that remain with me to this day,” Shu, who left home at 15, told AFP ahead of the premiere. “They’re healing, but reflecting on the past, those scars still feel present,” the 49-year-old added.

“Girl” centers on Hsiao-lee’s relationship with her abusive parents. Her father, portrayed by Taiwanese actor Roy Chiu, is a frustrated mechanic who comes home late after heavy drinking, directing his anger toward his wife and daughters. “After shooting the film, I told my father, who is still an alcoholic, ‘Sorry, I put your story on the screen,'” Shu said.

The film is competing for the prestigious Golden Lion award at the 2025 Venice Film Festival.

Born Lin Li Hui, Shu began her entertainment career as a teenager, initially appearing in softcore adult films before rising to prominence in the Hong Kong and Taiwanese film industries, according to the South China Morning Post. Her breakout roles in “Viva Erotica” and “Bishonen” in the mid-1990s paved the way for a successful acting career.

She later gained international fame with performances in “The Transporter,” “So Close,” “Three Times,” “My Wife Is a Gangster 3,” and “Love.”