When it comes to LGBT films, tragedy and loneliness and death are the main narratives being put out there. But in this particular movie, those three elements aren't because of their sexual orientation. This movie is kind of a gem. It handles sex work and sex workers well, doesn't dehumanize them. There is even a character representing men who consume said content and yet feel like they can 'save' the person. That was all amazingly handled. Another side of the story is death by tragedy, and the permanent trauma it caused on a family member. One of the main characters are tied down by their guilt, their sense of responsibility. I definitely think I would've rated this lower if the heaviness didn't end with some light, so thankfully it did.

To be honest I picked this Chinese film up because of the case. Its a weird tie closed case with Tattoos and post cards bound inside of it. I like odd box sets, especially Asian ones, which is why I picked this up. Its been sitting on myself since I got it two years or so ago. Unsure of what to watch while I sorted papers I pulled this off the shelf and gave it a go.The plot centers around a girl who runs a racy web cam site, her grandmother, one of the men watching her (he's cop trying to bust her), a kid who finds power in tattoos, a lovely tattoo artist and her brother. The girl is attracted to the tattoo artist and vice versa but because of complications and plot that is much too complicated to explain simply, things are not as easy as you might think.(nor as complicated as I'm making it out to be) I really liked this film. It has any number of very real characters that worm their way into your heart. This is an odd film at times in that it plays with the notion of why we remember and how we remember and what is real. Why do you remember what you remember? Are you sure that you really remember everything? This film noodles with the ideas at times with memories repeated differently. There are several characters who's memory is failing and we see how that effects those around them.The film also skirts around how we perceive people on line, as the cop falls for the girl and the girl isn't sure who is telling her they love her.There is something about the characters that made it all real. I mean how can you not help but love a film that shows the dangers of being a web-cam girl when you live at home with your grandmother.I need to say I loved how the romance between the characters is handled as something that just sort of was. The fact that its two women isn't really the point, its that its two people. Forgive me I'm tired of films that are same sex romance and they beat you over the head with it to the point that you wonder if its about anything other than being gay or lesbian. This is about the people.My only real complaint with the film is that the layers of memory and stories and reality kind of reach a breaking point about an hour and twenty minutes in. Somewhere about that time the film seems to be juggling way too many balls and I began to lose track of what was happening. Its a minor flaw because by that time the characters have built up enough good will it just carries you to the end.I think its worth a look, and even a repeat viewing.

Jade (Rainie Yang) has a porn web-blog and is remembering her first love after she runs into her at a tattoo parlor. Takeko (Isabella Leong - The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, The Eye 3) has a tattoo that Jade wants. More importantly, Jade wants Takeko to remember her. Takeko wants to forget because of trauma that occurred when the two of them were together many years previous.It is not a girl-on-girl story, it is just a love story with two women, about obsession and trauma, with tattoos as the tie. One doesn't have to get into philosophy to understand love and pain. Just sit back and enjoy.It was an incredibly beautifully shot film with a great score and two great actors that made it worthwhile.

The Spider Lilies has a deep content. It talks about how much people can remember the past and continue to pursue it. Leong is trapped in what happened in the past whereas Yeung is also trapped by her own past. The fate brought these 2 together and helped each other to build their future together from the past they shared. The story is strong but the acting is kind of weak. Not much chemistry between these two. There is not much going on when they get intimate with each other. It is not convincing the two share the same passion. I guess that is the major drawback in the film. It was sweet and bitter when the film showed their past. There is actually more emotion involved and more convincing with their past. Overall, it is a nice movie to watch.